Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The word on the street, unfortunately, is that it is a good scam by Fine Gael. As Senator Bacik said, the perception is definitely unfortunate in this regard.

I have one or two questions that I would be delighted if the Minister would answer to clarify a few things. She is in the privileged position of being able to put official information on the record of Seanad Éireann. Was she aware, or unaware, at the time she made this appointment that Mr. McNulty was going to be a Seanad candidate? If she was aware then why appoint someone who would have to stand down once elected? As we know, there are only 226 votes in the Seanad election which Fine Gael dominates, and the Government will dominate them. Therefore, he is a sure thing to be elected. That is the unfortunate undemocratic facet of elections like this one.