Tánaiste Joan Burton has said that the appointment of John McNulty to the board of the IMMA was "not the Taoiseach's finest hour".

However, she said that the issue has now been put behind the Coalition after the adoption of new rules on State appointments.

Earlier Enda Kenny rowed back from comments made on a TV debate last night, where he appeared to state that he had made the controversial appointment.

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Media go directly to McNulty appointment issue as Taoiseach leaves #leadersdebate pic.twitter.com/ZhOcadwFSn

— Juno McEnroe (@Junomaco) February 23, 2016

Joan Burton says it was a difficult time for the Taoiseach, but it's behind him now:

“Well I think the Taoiseach has made it clear, as he said himself, that it was not his finest hour,” she said.

“But the consequence there has been that the whole system of appointments to public Boards, members of public Boards, has in fact been completely overhauled.”

The Labour Party leader faced a Dáil motion of No Confidence in January following the appointment of former union chief David Begg as chair of the Pensions Authority.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said today that the Taoiseach should apologise to the people of Ireland for misleading the Dáil.

Speaking in Edenderry, Co Offaly, Deputy Martin said the Taoiseach has deceived the people.

“He should apologise for misleading the Dáil,” he said.

“I think there’s no doubt that the revelation last night, and the frankness of it actually, was in stark contrast to his performance in the Dáil.

“And I think that follows a pattern with Enda Kenny. You know the same thing happened with the forced resignation of Martin Callinan, the Garda Commissioner,

“You know, it actually took an inquiry to try and unravel that.”