Minister defends appointment of Seanad candidate to Imma board

Minister for the Arts Heather Humphreys has staunchly defended her nomination of Fine Gael Seanad byelection candidate John McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Imma) amid trenchant opposition criticism and some Labour Party concern.

Ms Humphreys was forced to attend the Upper House to explain Mr McNulty’s appointment to the board after losing a vote in the Seanad on the issue.

It emerged that the Fine Gael candidate, who is expected to win the Seanad byelection because of the party’s majority in the Upper House, will have to stand down from the museum board if elected to the Seanad.

The 37-year-old businessman was appointed to the contemporary art museum's board last week along with historian Sheila O'Regan, just days before his nomination as Fine Gael's candidate in the byelection to replace Deirdre Clune who has been elected to the European parliament.

Fianna Fail Senator Thomas Byrne, who called the vote said the appointment brought the Seanad "into disrepute".

But defending the appointment in her first address as Minster to the Seanad, Ms Humphreys described Mr McNulty as a self-employed businessman who brought 15 years business experience to the Imma board.

He was also involved in the local cultural and tourism committee in Kilcar, Co Donegal and “has a track record in promoting culture, heritage the GAA and the Irish language”.

She said he had been actively involved in local heritage events and heritage restoration projects in south Donegal as well as festivals and was driving a three-year Irish language development t plan for the area.

Mr Byrne said the aim of the appointment “appears to be to get him over the hill and through the gap”.

He said there were rumours that Mr McNulty had not even applied for appointment to the board.

Labour Seanad leader Ivana Bacik expressed her serious concerns about the appointments and said “it creates an unfortunate perception and doesn’t seem to be in keeping with the promises for reform”

Independent Senator David Norris said “I exonerate the Minister but this came from the top” and he said the appointment showed Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s attitude to the Seanad.

Seanad leader Maurice Cummins welcomed the two nominations and said they had a balance of skills and Fine Gael whip in the Seanad Paul Coghlan said that even the Imma board had a "bottom line" and Mr McNulty would bring business experience to the table.

Independent Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames said it was highly unfortunate that the Minister’s first attendance in the Seanad was on the basis of a “good scam”.

She asked if the Minister was aware that Mr McNulty was going to be a Seanad candidate. “Why appoint someone who will have to stand down once elected?” she asked.

The Minister said she had no role to play in the nomination of candidates to the Seanad.

Her responsibility in the appointment of nominees to the board was to ensure a balanced skills set.