Fianna Fáil has defended its choice of candidates as part of the Taoiseach’s appointments to the Seanad.

Enda Kenny offered Micheál Martin the possibility of naming three senators in his 11 nominations.

Deputy Martin selected Joan Freeman, the founder of Pieta House, Alzheimer’s Ireland CEO Colette Kelleher and businessman Pádraig Ó Céidigh.

Six former Fine Gael TDs were named among the Taoiseach’s Seanad appointments yesterday.

Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Byrne has said their choices are aimed at implementing change:”Micheal decided not to take a political approach and not to benefit the Fianna Fáil party or politicians, but rather to try to increase the diversity of the voices in the Seanad and to give a voice to the area of mental health and suicide prevention and we have the chief executive of Pieta House.

“You know he has tried to make a statement with this that these are the kind of voices that need to be in the Seanad, these voices need to be heard.

“It wasn’t all about politics for Fianna Fáil, it actually about trying to get change and trying to make a positive difference to people’s lives around the country.”