Minister forced to defend State board appointment before Seanad

Arts Minister Heather Humphreys was forced to defend her decision to appoint Fine Gael's candidate for a Seanad by-election to a state board.

John McNulty, who is set to be elected to the Seanad next month, was made a director of the Irish Museum of Modern Art two weeks ago - a position he never applied for. Instead, he was appointed by the Arts Minister, Heather Humphreys, a fellow Fine Gael politician.