THE businessman who sparked controversy after a TV outburst in which he referred to the "cringe factor" and "embarrassment level" surrounding the tánaiste has been appointed to the judging panel of the 'Your Country, Your Call' competition.

Paul Kerley, chief executive of Norkom Technologies, is one of the eight people named on the judging panel of the competition, which is the brainchild of President Mary McAleese's husband Martin.

The competition, launched six weeks ago, is designed "to find two major proposals that, when implemented, will transform our economy – or significant elements of it – by creating jobs and opportunity."

Several business leaders have been named on the judging panel. The judging panel was chosen by David Byrne, chancellor of DCU, who will also chair it.

As well as Kerley, the panel comprises John Bell of the European Commission's consumer policy division; Tim Cody of Accenture Ireland; Mary Davis of Special Olympics Europe; Damini Kumar, European ambassador for creativity and innovation; Pádraig Ó Céidigh, chief executive of Aer Arann; and Amanda Pratt, creative director of Avoca.

A spokeswoman for 'Your Country, Your Call' said it was "completely coincidental" that Kerley was named as a judge a few weeks after he came to national prominence with his attack on the tánaiste.

On 8 March, Pat Kenny on RTÉ's Frontline programme asked audience member Kerley: "What do you think of Mary Coughlan doing her job?"

He replied: "She is not fit for it. Worse still is that when we go out and go into the international world, she actually, to her colleagues, to her staff and to the business people around her, there's a cringe factor around it. There is an embarrassment level around it and how we are being represented."

Kerley's comments about the then enterprise minister led to stinging criticism of her in the Dáil chamber. Coughlan was later moved to the education portfolio in the cabinet reshuffle.

Fine Gael's Leo Varadkar repeated Kerley's "cringe factor" comments in the Dáil. He told her: "You are unable to talk to businesspeople and when you do, the language you use is often inappropriate and vulgar. What do you say to those who level the charge at you that you are not suitable to represent Ireland overseas?"

Kerley is the founder and chief executive of Norkom, which provides financial crime and compliance solutions in over 100 countries.

At last year's software industry awards, he was named as the ISA Technology Person of the Year, and the company ranks in the Global FinTech 100.

Neither Kerley nor the tánaiste were available for comment when contacted by the Sunday Tribune.