Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabh mo leithscéal. Within two to three weeks of his appointment he will have to stand down. This surely creates the greatest cynical stroke of politics in recent times.

I have a key question for the Minister. Was she aware, or unaware, that Mr. McNulty was going to be a Seanad candidate at the time of his appointment? Government policy says that it is going to advertise these appointments. When and where was this appointment advertised? Did the successful applicant, or both applicants, apply in writing? I refer to Mr. McNulty and Ms O'Regan. Will a copy of the application be made available?

Those are my questions for the Minister. There is no other job in Ireland, like I said earlier on the Order of Business, where one could successfully win, first, without being appropriately qualified and, second, by suddenly getting an appointment a week beforehand to make one qualify.

I attended a banking meeting before this and the word at the meeting was "Gosh, if I got appointed to the Central Bank maybe I could suddenly have a job in banking." That is what this looks like. It makes a disgrace of this House unless we can have honesty and transparency. I look forward to the Minister's answers.