The incoming chairman of the Pensions Authority has accused a TD of abusing Dáil privilege over comments she made about his appointment.

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David Begg is appearing before an Oireachtas Committee this afternoon to discuss his nomination by Joan Burton.

His appointment has proven controversial, as the Tánaiste chose not to advertise the role through the Public Appointments Service.

This afternoon Mr Begg hit out at Clare Daly, who last week said he had been chosen because he had helped to stop major strike action by several unions.

"Let me say first of all Deputy Daly, in response to you - I took enormous exception to you r contribution in the House last week," he said.

"I thought it was vitriolic, and I thought it was unfair, and I thought it was cowardly, in the sense that you used the privilege of the House to say things about me which were unreasonable and unfair, in my opinion."