John McNulty insists he wasn't pushed or asked to step aside from the Seanad by-election race.

The Donegal businessman withdrew from the by-election earlier saying his involvement was a distraction for the government.

His decision came as the Taoiseach faced a Dáil grilling over the nomination and Mr McNulty's appointment to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art earlier today.

John McNulty - who says he'll seek the Fine Gael nomination at the next general election - told Ocean FM he believes his integrity is intact.

 

 

The Arts Minister Heather Humphreys says she has learned valuable lessons from the John McNulty controversy.

In a statement this evening, the Minister says she regrets the controversy surrounding his appointment to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art , which was the first board appointment she made as Minister.

She says she appointed Mr McNulty to IMMA after she was approached by Fine Gael officials and made aware that the Donegal business man had an interest in serving on a board under her remit.