McNulty: I was not told to withdraw from Seanad by-election
John McNulty says he wants to draw a line under the controversy surrounding him, and he has done nothing wrong.
Yesterday, he asked people not to vote for him in the upcoming Seanad by-election, following the uproar over his nomination and his appointment to the board of IMMA.
Today, he has insisted he did not know when he got the job that a Seanad nomination was in the pipeline.
He also says he does not want to discuss whether he has been contacted by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny over the controversy.
Mr McNulty says he made it clear originally earlier this year that he wanted to serve on a State board.
He said: "I went to the local elections in May and after that I made it known that if a board opportunity came up, I would like to be appointed to a board.
"I never said any type of board, but when I got offered the chance of the board (at IMMA), I was delighted to take it."
He went on to say that all he wanted to do was represent the people and deliver for them, but felt that things have gone out of control and it was time to pull out of the by-election.
He said: "I'm telling you now, I decided myself that it was time to withdraw from the race, because I felt that people need to move on."
