Kenny says he has not issued direction for key Seanad vote

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he has not issued a formal direction to his TDs and senators on how to vote in the upcoming Seanad election.

Mr Kenny also said he "won't speculate" on the outcome of the Seanad by-election vote but said: "I haven't given a directive to the Fine Gael party.

“It’s an election obviously that when the process commences it can’t be stopped - it goes through to the end. So that’s the position.”

A growing number of Fine Gael and Labour members of the Oireachtas, including Labour deputy leader Alan Kelly, have said they will support John McNulty because they do not want to support the Sinn Féin candidate or Independent Gerard Craughwell, who also has the backing of Fianna Fáil.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan has said he will vote in the Seanad byelection, but has declined to say he will be supporting.

Mr McNulty has asked government TDs and senators not to support him, following the controversy over his appointment to the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Imma).

The 37-year-old Mr McNulty was appointed to Imma just days before his nomination as Fine Gael’s candidate in the Seanad byelection to replace Deirdre Clune who has been elected to the European parliament.

He was to replace Ms Clune on the Cultural and Educational Panel of the Seanad and the Imma appointment would allow him to demonstrate knowledge of the area.

He has since stepped down from Imma and has attempted to pull out of the Seanad race but the incident has been a major political embarrassment for Fine Gael and for Taoiseach Enda Kenny amid accusations of of “cronyism” and “stroke-pulling”.

However, a growing number of Fine Gael and Labour members of the Oireachtas, including Labour deputy leader Alan Kelly, have said they will support Mr McNulty anyway because they do not want to support the Sinn Féin candidate or Independent Gerard Craughwell, who also has the backing of Fianna Fáil.

It has led to increasing speculation Mr McNulty will actually win the byelection, with reports suggesting he will then accept the seat if he wins the contest.

Speaking at a meeting of the North-South Minister Council in Dublin Castle this afternoon, Mr Flanagan confirmed he will vote before next Friday’s deadline.

“This is a democratic election taking place for the Seanad,” Mr Flanagan said. “The deadline is next week. I haven’t cast my vote yet, I’m looking forward to voting. I will obviously abide by whatever result the electorate bring forward.

“I’m not indicating my preference. It is a secret ballot, always has been. I’ll be voting in the election, I have voted in every election since I was 18.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny asked the Fine Gael parliamentary party earlier this week to adhere to Mr McNulty’s request, but, also speaking at the Dublin Castle event today, Mr Kenny said he had not issued a formal direction to his TDs and senators.

He also declined to say what action he will take if Mr McNulty is elected.