Bertie personally nominated Celia for job

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern personally nominated his former partner Celia Larkin to the board of the new Consumer Agency only two weeks ago, a month after the 11-person board was announced.

While Mr Ahern would make no comment on his controversial nomination, Ms Larkin yesterday defended her appointment to the interim board of the new agency on the grounds she was both a consumer and a businesswoman.

No reason was given by the Government as to why Mr Ahern delayed his nomination until two weeks ago. A spokesman said it was not unique and he had made at least one nomination in the past after the other members of a State board or authority had been announced.