The Government was sharply criticised in the Seanad in a row over the appointment of a Fine Gael Seanad byelection candidate to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Imma).

Minister for the Arts Heather Humphreys staunchly defended her nomination of Fine Gael Seanad byelection candidate John McNulty to the Imma board amid trenchant opposition criticism and some Labour Party concern.

Ms Humphreys was forced to attend the Upper House to explain Mr McNulty’s appointment to the board after losing a vote in the Seanad on the issue.

It emerged the Fine Gael candidate, who is expected to win the Seanad byelection because of the party’s majority in the Upper House, will have to stand down from the museum board if elected to the Seanad.

Businessman

The 37-year-old businessman was appointed to the contemporary art museum’s board last week along with historian Sheila O’Regan, just days before his nomination as Fine Gael’s candidate in the byelection to replace Deirdre Clune who has been elected to the European Parliament.

Fianna Fáil Senator Thomas Byrne, who called the vote, said the appointment brought the Seanad "into disrepute".

But defending the appointment in her first address as Minster to the Seanad, Ms Humphreys described Mr McNulty as a self-employed businessman who brought 15 years’ business experience to the Imma board.

He was also involved in the local cultural and tourism committee in Kilcar, Co Donegal and “has a track record in promoting culture, heritage, the GAA and the Irish language”. Mr Byrne said the aim of the appointment “appears to be to get him over the hill and through the gap”. He said there were rumours that Mr McNulty had not even applied for appointment to the board.

Labour Seanad leader Ivana Bacik expressed her serious concerns about the appointments and said "it creates an unfortunate perception and doesn't seem to be in keeping with the promises for reform".

Independent Senator David Norris said: "I exonerate the Minister but this came from the top" and he said the appointment showed Taoiseach Enda Kenny's attitude to the Seanad.

Fine Gael whip in the Seanad Paul Coghlan said that even the Imma board had a "bottom line" and Mr McNulty would bring business experience to the table.

Independent Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames said it was highly unfortunate that the Minister’s first attendance in the Seanad was on the basis of a “good scam”.

She asked if the Minister was aware that Mr McNulty was going to be a Seanad candidate. “Why appoint someone who will have to stand down once elected?” she asked.

The Minister said she had no role to play in the nomination of candidates to the Seanad.