Kenny supports Joan Burton in no confidence motion

The Tánaiste has said she appointed David Begg as chairman of the Pensions Authority because he was "eminently qualified" for the job.

"He has years of experience in working for employees' rights, including the right to an adequate pension that provides security of income in retirement,'' said Joan Burton.

Ms Burton was responding to a motion of no confidence in her moved by the Independent Alliance following her appointment of Mr Begg, former general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

She said in all her years in the House she could not remember a no-confidence motion which was so threadbare, so flimsy and so insubstantial.

She said even Independent TD Shane Ross, a member of the alliance, had accepted that the guidelines on appointments to State boards were fully complied with. Mr Ross, she said, did not like trade unions and he did not have much time for Mr Begg.

“But even if we accept that, I still find it extraordinary that Deputy Ross and his supporters would use the procedures of the House to pursue what seems nothing more than a personal vendetta against a man who has given decades of service to Irish workers,’’ Ms Burton added.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he had full confidence in Ms Burton and Mr Begg and outlined the Government’s economic achievements.

Motion of no confidence

Opening the debate, Independent TD

John Halligan

said it gave him no pleasure to move the motion of no confidence.

He said there was a longstanding tradition of outgoing governments appointing party favourites to State boards.

A Fianna Fáil-led government, he said, had appointed 60 of their supporters to boards before leaving office in 2011.

Ms Burton, he said, had always been a most vocal critic of political cronyism from the opposition benches.

He said it was infuriating to hear Mr Begg say the €20,000 payment meant it was “not lavishly paid’’. This was an appalling insult, said Mr Halligan.