Joan Burton is facing a motion of no confidence next week over her handling of an appointment to a state board.

There will be two nights of debate in the Dáil next week on the motion tabled by the five members of the Independent Alliance.

David Begg was today named as the new chairman of the Pensions Authority for a five-year term, in a post worth over €20,000 a year.

The former general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions was appointed as chairman of the state board without going through the new process for state appointments.

It has been confirmed this evening that he was not appointed through the Public Appointments Service, but instead was chosen by Tánaiste Joan Burton.

However, a spokesman said this was permitted under the new guidelines, as long as the minister was satisfied with the appointee's credentials.

Mr Begg has confirmed he did not express interest in the role, and would be prepared to resign the position if he was asked to do so.

The procedures were introduced in late 2014 at Labour's insistence after the appointment of John McNulty to the board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art.