The Senator who was elected after the John McNulty affair says somebody is lying over his appointment to a State board.

Last night, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny appeared to admit he appointed Mr McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA).

But Mr Kenny has rowed back from that - saying that Minister Heather Humphreys was responsible, as he previously claimed in the Dáil.

Now Senator Gerard Craughwell, who is a member of the Independent Alliance and who ultimately got the seat, says the Taoiseach clearly made a misstep in the leaders’ debate last night.

This morning Renua Leader Lucinda Creighton criticised Mr Kenny, saying he contradicted himself in his explanation of the John McNulty affair.

But Mr Kenny says a result of that controversy 18 months ago, the rules on State board appointments have changed.

Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin, who raised the John McNulty matter last night, had a go at the Taoiseach again today.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin criticised the format of last night's debate, telling Cork's Red FM the programme time was too long.