Joan Burton faces Dáil motion of no-confidence in David Begg controversy

Tánaiste Joan Burton will face a pre-election Dáil no-confidence motion next week after the David Begg political appointment affair continued to embroil her in controversy.

The Independent Alliance tabled the motion last night, saying the Labour leader’s decision to give the ex-trade unionist a lucrative State job is a return to Celtic Tiger “cronyism” and an insult to people living in poverty.

On Wednesday, the cabinet rubber-stamped the appointment of Mr Begg as the new national pensions authority chair for the next five years, a role that includes a €100,000-plus total pay packet. The decision was made after Ms Burton — who described Mr Begg as a “hard-working servant of the Labour movement” on his retirement as Irish Congress of Trade Unions secretary general last March — put his name forward without referring to the transparent public appointments process.