Taoiseach defends appointment of jobs minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has defended his decision to appoint Mary Mitchell O’Connor as Minister for Jobs.

He was speaking after Ms Mitchell O’Connor was savaged by her Fine Gael colleagues at a meeting of the parliamentary party and amid a barrage of negative media commentary about her performance.

At a briefing for political correspondents, Mr Kenny was asked on what basis she was selected to take on the economically sensitive portfolio of Jobs and Enterprise. He said he appointed her on the basis of her educational background and dealing with people, in addition to her activities in the Fine Gael party.“