Enda Kenny with Darragh and Jennifer Loftus in Castlebar, Co Mayo following the 2011 General Election.

In the Dail last week Mr Kenny strongly defended the appointment of his neighbour Darragh Loftus to the board of Solas, the State training agency.

“I am actually sick and tired of a position where we have had a flawed process for years in this country. Because of the flaw in the process, people who want to give service can be labelled as lackeys, hacks or cronies.

“I heard a name on national radio this morning of a young man appointed to a State board who was deemed to be eligible on the basis of having worked in a bar or having supervised a pool room. I know the young man in question,” said Mr Kenny.

“I saw him grow from a primary school lad to the adult he is now. That young man has a B.Sc. honours degree as well as an MA in innovation and management. He did his stint in Brussels. As many other students did, he worked in a bar for the summer.”

Today it can be revealed that Mr Loftus’ sister, Jennifer, also from Castlebar, but based in Galway, was appointed to the board of An Post [a €16,000 a-year-role] on May 6 by then-Communications Minister, Pat Rabbitte. Ms Loftus, who works for Acorn Life in Galway, has worked with Acorn Life since 2003, having graduated from University College Dublin with a first-class degree in actuarial and financial studies.