An independent minister says he's "not disappointed" about allegations of cronyism over Fine Gael's appointments to the Seanad.
Finian McGrath says Enda Kenny's picks for the Seanad are a matter for himself and have nothing to do with the Independents in Government.
The Taoiseach has been accused of cronyism after it emerged one of his 11 appointees gave his daughter a job while on a J1 visa.
Billy Lawless is now a restaurateur in Chicago, as well as a lobbyist for US immigration reform. He is also a former chairman of Fine Gael's constituency organisation in Galway West.
Senator Lawless has dismissed any allegations of cronyism, and says it is routine for Irish businessmen to help accommodate Irish students seeking jobs through the J1 programme.
But Finian McGrath says the Independent Alliance have no connection to the appointments - and are not concerned about how they are filled.
His comments come despite the Alliance promising to end cronyism in its pre-election 'Charter for Change'.
Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News:
