A Fine Gael TD has said he recommended another party member appointed to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (Imma) to Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys.
Limerick deputy Patrick O'Donovan, who is a friend of Ms Humphreys, said he recommended Fine Gael member Sheila O'Regan as a suitable candidate for any cultural boards.
Ms O’Regan was appointed to the board alongside Seanad byelection candidate John McNulty, increasing the numbers on the board from nine to 11.
New rules introduced by the Government had reduced the size of the boards of the State’s major museums and art galleries to nine members.
Asked yesterday why she appointed anyone when a full nine-person board was in place, Ms Humphreys said 15 people could serve on the board. She said she felt the representation from the regions could be improved.
Mr O'Donovan told The Irish Times yesterday he suggested Ms O'Regan's name to Ms Humphreys, who the made the appointment.
“Myself and Heather are friends. Our offices were next to each other when she was backbencher,” the Limerick TD said. “I would have suggested her name and said she would have been a good addition to any cultural institution.”
Mr O’Donovan said Ms O’Regan was contacted by department officials directly in connection with the Imma position.
“I have no doubt she will be a huge addition to the Irish Museum of Modern Art,” Mr O’Donovan said. “There are very few people I could think of who would be a have done so much voluntary work. She is looking forward to it and I have no doubt she is going to be very good.”
Noting that it is a “voluntary, non-remunerated position”, Mr O’Donovan said Ms O’Regan had a lifetime association with the arts, history and cultural heritage in Limerick.
Meanwhile, Ms Humphreys has said she is “not at liberty to say” who approached her about putting Mr McNulty on the Imma board and described it as a Fine Gael matter.
“John McNulty’s name was mentioned to me. I looked at his credentials,” she said.
Asked who had mentioned Mr McNulty’s name, Ms Humphreys said: “I’m not at liberty to say who mentioned his name to me because that’s a Fine Gael matter.”
Ms Humphreys said she received Mr McNulty’s CV. “I looked at it and assessed it and I take full responsibility for appointing him to the board of Imma.”
An increasing number of Government TDs and senators are saying they will vote for Mr McNulty, increasing speculation that he may actually win the byelection, despite asking people not to vote for him.
Also speaking yesterday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny refused to be drawn further on the controversy. He declined to expand on the matter when asked to explain what were the errors made in relation to Mr McNulty’s nomination to the board while seeking a nomination to run for the Seanad.
