Taoiseach appoints President's husband to Seanad

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny is appointing the President's husband, Dr Martin McAleese, to the Seanad.

A former olympian, a children's rights campaigner and the Director of the Abbey Theatre also make up the Taoiseach's nominees.

Of the 11 appointees four come from Labour and three were election candidates - solicitor Aideen Hayden, barrister Lorraine Higgins and teacher Mary Moran.

The Fourth, Dr Katherine Zappone, is an Irish Human Rights Commissioner who shot to prominence when, along with her partner Ann Louise Gilligan, they sought legal recognition of their life partnership.

On the Taoiseach's seven Fine Gael nominees, the most prominent is Dr Martin McAleese, who has said he will be independent by not taking the party whip.

He has also said he will not take a salary until his wife leaves office later this year.

The former Olympian Eamon Coughlan is also to be made a senator along with Fiach MacConghail, director of the Abbey Theatre.

Jillian Van Turnhout of the Children's Rights Alliance and Mary Ann O'Brien, founder of the Jack and Jill Foundation, are to be made senators also.

Louth Councillor Jim Darcy and Educationalist Marie Louise O'Donnell also make the list.