The Independent Alliance says it has not objected to nominating former Taoiseach John Bruton as Vice President of the European Investment Bank.

Minister Finian McGrath says the group has instead insisted that the Government hold an open competition for the position.

The job is one of the most senior in Europe and comes with a salary of €278,000 a year.

Minister McGrath says that while a story on the front of The Sunday Times is true, Mr Bruton's name was never discussed: