Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and, as he says, I support review mechanisms for innovations. It is good practice. As regards the timing of this matter, it strikes me that the Government, including the Minister, only moved when they were caught out in respect of the McNulty affair. That is certainly my analysis of the Minister's position. It is tremendously disappointing. In 2011, Labour said it would end political cronyism and start work immediately on overhauling the appointments system to State boards. It was great stuff and I supported it absolutely because it was the right position. We are now the best part of four years into this Government's term, yet the Minister has been forced into a position whereby he has to introduce these changes.

As the Minister with responsibility for the integrity of public appointments, did he endorse the McNulty appointment to the board of IMMA? Does he endorse the 11th hour appointments made by his colleague, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, as he exited Cabinet? He appointed a Labour Party by-election candidate, Denis Leonard, and former Fine Gael Deputy, John Farrelly, to Bord na Móna. Is the Minister aware that his colleague and former party leader had, on an earlier occasion while he was in government, appointed his former constituency organiser, Noel Ward, to Ordnance Survey Ireland? Was the Minister aware of those appointments and does he approve of them?

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