John McNulty insists he wasn't pushed or asked to step aside from the Seanad by-election race.
The Donegal businessman withdrew from the by-election earlier saying his involvement was a distraction for the government.
His decision came as the Taoiseach faced a Dáil grilling over the nomination and Mr McNulty's appointment to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art earlier today.
John McNulty - who says he'll seek the Fine Gael nomination at the next general election - told Ocean FM he believes his integrity is intact.
"It's a personal decision … my reputation is there, and my integrity, I've always had that, and I wanted to go on board here and do the right thing for the people of Donegal and support them."
He said he had asked for a place on a State board when he ran in the local elections, and was offered the IMMA board. "I gladly took it, because I feel like I had a lot to offer," he said.
"When I put myself forward in any capacity, I give everything I have to it, and I know I would have done the same for IMMA."
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