A Labour TD is insisting he will not vote for John McNulty in the Seanad by-election as the cronyism row rolls on.

Tánaiste Joan Burton has met the Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the issue and says she expects the government candidate to be voted for.

She also says the way State Board appointments are made will be changed.

Ms Burton says she spoke 'at length' with Mr Kenny about the appointment of Mr McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), and his nomination by Fine Gael to contest the Seanad by-election.

The Tánaiste says she accepted Mr Kenny's apology for the way the issue was handled and insisted the candidate would receive the support of Labour.

She says the government will now change the way appointments to State boards are made, and that Minister Brendan Howlin will examine changes and bring a memo to government soon.

But not all may be on side. Meath TD Dominic Hannigan has questioned if supporting the candidate is part of the programme for government

And this was what Clare TD Michael McNamara said when asked if his objections meant he would not vote for Mr McNulty.