Burton holds ‘detailed’ talks with Kenny over McNulty controversy

Tánaiste Joan Burton has confirmed she had a "detailed" conversation with Taoiseach Enda Kenny about the fall-out from Fine Gael Seanad byelection candidate John McNulty's appointment to the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Imma) board.

Ms Burton said she welcomed Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s statement on Friday “clarifying the circumstances” surrounding the nomination.

The Tánaiste said she anticipated Labour TDs and Senators would support Mr McNultyin the secret ballot.

“The Taoiseach himself has apologised in relation to the way it was handled and I’m glad that he has spoken about that.

“More importantly I’ve been speaking to the Taoiseach at some length this morning about how we improve these procedures,” she said.

Ms Burton said Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin would bring a memo to Cabinet shortly on appointments to State boards, which she re-iterated should be done through the public appointments system.

“I’ve had an opportunity today to have a conversation with the Taoiseach because what I am determined to see is that we have procedures and processes which are clear to everybody,” Ms Burton said.

“We need the best people to go on State boards...it’s important that those boards have available to them a wide range of talent and a diverse range of people with the appropriate skills set.”

She described the Seanad vacancy created by the election of Deirdre Clune to the European Parliament as a "Fine Gael vacancy".

It was appropriate for the party to proceed to fill the vacancy, she added. She was speaking in the RDS this afternoon.