Controversy surrounds Taoiseach’s Seanad appointments

Áine Ryan

PARTY political patronage underscores the Taoiseach’s Seanad nominees with six of the eleven new senators former Fine Gael TDs. That is according to Sinn Féin Senator Rose Conway-Walsh who told The Mayo News yesterday that there was ‘no new politics’ in the Taoiseach’s Seanad appointees.
Two of the newly-appointed senators,  Michelle Mulherin and John O’Mahony were Mayo TDs during the 32nd DΡil.   
Dubbing the appointments, which also included three Fianna FΡil appointees, as ‘a betrayal’ of the promised ‘new politics’, Ms Conway-Walsh accused Mr Kenny of ‘returning to the old backroom deals approach that kept Fine Gael and Fianna FΡil in power since the foundation of the State’.
“This is not the new politics that we were promised,” Ms Conway-Walsh said. “The Taoiseach promised a new politics and Fianna FΡil said that they were in opposition to the government. It is clear from the list of appointees to the Seanad that the promise of new politics by the Taoiseach is betrayed by his actions. The bulk of his nominees are a band of former Fine Gael elected representatives.”
“It is also clear that the pretence of Fianna FΡil being independent of government is laid bare by the claim that they put forward three of the Taoiseach’s nominees as part of a deal.
“This deal demonstrates the need for immediate and fundamental Seanad reform, which is why Sinn Féin is proposing a Committee on Seanad Reform in order to bring about real change.”

Deal
While Fianna FΡil’s deal, agreed as part of its conditions for facilitating the formation of this DΡil, has been criticised, Deputy Dara Calleary told The Mayo News yesterday that the three people ‘nominated by MicheΡl Martin to the Senate will bring the issues of mental health, care for the elderly and those with dementia and a voice for small business and the regions to the heart of Seanad Éireann’.
“Fianna FΡil were the only party to campaign to retain and reform the Senate  – other parties wanted it abolished but are now happy to use it as a platform for their politics. The three appointments made by MicheΡl reflect how Fianna FΡil sees the Senate being utilised to contribute to the building of a fairer Ireland,” Deputy Calleary said.
The Fianna FΡil nominees are: Ms Colette Kelleher, Chief Executive of Alzheimers Ireland; Ms Joan Freeman, founder of Pieta House; PΡdraig Ó’Céidigh, Conamara businessman.
The Taoiseach’s other Fine Gael nominees are: Paudie Coffey, a former senator, TD and minister of state; Ray Butler, a former TD; Frank Feighan, a former senator and TD ; Dr James Reilly, a  former minister and deputy leader of Fine Gael.
While Foxford native, Senator Marie-Louise O’Donnell, is an Independent senator, her loyalty to Mr Kenny has been well documented. Senator Catherine Noone from Claremorris retained her seat in the recent Seanad Elections, as did veteran Castlebar Senator Paddy Burke. Mayo’s other senator is Belmullet GP Keith Swannick, who was elected for Fianna FΡil in the recent elections.  Meanwhile, the appointment of Galway native and Chicago businessman, Billy Lawless has created the most coverage after the Irish Mail on Sunday revealed that Mr Kenny’s daughter, Aoibhinn, worked as a hostess at one of his Chicago restaurants when she travelled to the US on a J1 visa.
Speaking yesterday morning on Newstalk, Mr Lawless dismissed charges of ‘cronyism’ for giving Mr Kenny’s daughter a job.    
“The claim of cronyism was absolutely ridiculous. I get 50 to 60 calls every year from Ireland about J1 students coming over. It’s nothing new,” said Mr Lawless.