Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is the candidate who is not a candidate. The Taoiseach said earlier that he was the first to accept responsibility for anything on that side of the House. I have to say that he made our friends in Fianna Fáil blush with that answer. Let us get real about all of this. There is a deep disillusionment among the general public about jobs for the Fine Gael boys. I note the absence of Labour Ministers here today. There is even the failure of Labour to face down such blatant croneyism at the heart of the Government. This is an abuse, or a possible abuse, of the public appointments process. The appointment to IMMA was, as the Taoiseach has acknowledged, to secure a Seanad seat. It is an extremely serious matter, especially when it involves the Taoiseach, never mind his other persona as uachtarán of Fine Gael.

Will the Taoiseach explain what public interest was served by John McNulty's appointment to the board of IMMA? How were the arts advanced by this appointment? Where is the accountability, transparency and openness in that appointment? Did the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, follow the Taoiseach's example by appointing a former Fine Gael councillor to the board of Irish Water? Was this done at the Taoiseach's request in either of his two capacities?

In the absence of a Labour Minister, did the Labour Party follow suit by asking the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, to appoint a former Labour Party councillor to the board of the Irish Aviation Authority?

Given what the Taoiseach has just said, and his stated wish to restore credibility - credibility which was undermined by him - would it not be better to cancel this election and re-run the election process?

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