Latest: FF and FG accused of 'old backroom deals approach' to Seanad nominations

Latest: Sinn Féin Senator Rose Conway Walsh has criticised Taoiseach Enda Kenny for returning to the “old backroom deals approach that kept Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in power since the foundation of the state”, saying that “this is not the new politics that we were promised.”

Update 7.36pm: Sinn Féin Senator Rose Conway Walsh has criticised Taoiseach Enda Kenny for returning to the “old backroom deals approach that kept Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil in power since the foundation of the state”, saying that “this is not the new politics that we were promised.”

Speaking tonight, the Mayo Senator and Sinn Féin Seanad Leader said: “The Taoiseach promised a new politics and Fianna Fáil said that they were in opposition to the Government.