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Thursday 8 June 2023 Dublin: 14°C

# Niall Collins

Last month
May 2023
# transcript
'I did yeah, absolutely': Here's (exactly) what Niall Collins said today in response to reporters
In recent weeks, Niall Collins has been forced to make two Dail statements in relation to controversies.
# Micheál Martin
Tánaiste says he stands by Dáil comments about The Ditch and Paddy Cosgrave
Martin described The Ditch as “a political organisation” that wanted to attack and undermine confidence in the government.
# dail questions
Paul Murphy's request to take Dáil questions about Jobstown protest should be facilitated, says Varadkar
The Taoiseach indicated it wouldn’t be in return for a Q&A with Niall Collins.
# Dáil
Varadkar suggests Paul Murphy should be quizzed on 2014 Jobstown protest in heated Dáil session
Varadkar said it is the job of Dáil Éireann to hold ministers to account.
April
April 2023
# Niall Collins
Answer Qs, survive the punches: that's how political scandals were handled. Until now it seems.
Is accountability slipping, the Tánaiste was asked this week.
# National Union of Journalists
Micheál Martin doubles down on criticism of The Ditch as NUJ questions his use of Dáil privilege
The NUJ’s Séamus Dooley noted that, unlike TDs, journalists must act subject to “extremely restrictive defamation laws”.
# Niall Collins
Paul Murphy makes complaint to Sipo over Niall Collins land sale controversy
Controversy has surrounded Collins over allegations surrounding the sale of land in Patrickswell in 2008, when he was a member of the Dáil.
# Niall Collins
Tánaiste accuses The Ditch of 'political campaign' as website labels Martin's attack 'paranoid'
Online news outlet The Ditch reported that Niall Collins voted to sell council land that his wife later bought.
# dáil statement
Niall Collins: 'No law broken' insists junior minister in address to Dáil
Collins said ‘in hindsight’ he should not have participated in the 2007 local area meeting.
# Controversy
Niall Collins: How Limerick County Council came to sell land to the Fianna Fáil TD's wife
Collins had not responded to the allegations until last night.
# Niall Collins
Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins issues statement regarding allegations surrounding sale of land
Collins has been the subject of allegations relating to the disposal of land in recent days.
This year
2023
# Personal circumstances
Niall Collins TD repeatedly refuses to answer question on 2001 planning application
When asked about details of whether the listed address was incorrect, Collins said he wouldn’t go into his ‘personal living circumstances’.
# planning controversy
Micheál Martin backs Niall Collins as pressure ramps up on Junior Minister to answer questions
Collins defended himself in the Dáil on the issue yesterday.
# dáil statement
'I was compliant': Niall Collins defends planning application but opposition irked at lack of Q&A
Earlier this week, the three party leaders expressed their confidence in Collins.
# Niall Collins
Junior Minister Niall Collins to make Dáil statement on 2001 housing application
The three party leaders have stated their full confidence in the minister of state.
Last year
2022
# Season's Greetings
Five TDs spent almost €4,000 between them printing Christmas material using Oireachtas facility
51 different TDs and senators used the Oireachtas printer in the run up to Christmas.
51 different TDs and senators used the printer in the run up to Christmas.
Figures released under Freedom of Information show that the total cost of Oireachtas printing before Christmas was €6,428.96.
All time
# Limerick
Government Minister, solicitor and GRA raise questions around garda use of discretion
Five Road Policing Unit gardaí have been under investigation since October 2019 but have not been charged with any offence.
# Fraud
HSE making progress on restoring health systems, but disruption to continue next week
Government ministers have met to review progress on Ireland’s response to the attack.
# Apprenticeship
Employers will be paid more to take on women or lone parents as apprentices
Additional money will also be given to businesses that take on people with a disability, or are from direct provision as apprentices.
# Debate
Mother and Baby Homes activists reject claim of political interference as FF say campaign has been 'hijacked'
Niall Collins says online abuse directed at TDs is ‘orchestrated’.
# re-training
Scheme offering employers €3,000 to take on apprentices extended into next year
Minister Simon Harris is due to announce 10,000 places for upskilling today.
# Schools
Minister for Health says 'there isn't going to be a longer mid-term break'
Donnelly joined junior minister Niall Collins who earlier rejected suggestions that schools could close for an extended period.
# dirty tricks
'It’s nasty politics': Martin says Varadkar will run a Boris-style general election campaign
He also accused Fine Gael of ‘targeting’ Fianna Fáil members.
# Democracy
Why was there such a big fuss over 'Votegate' and what happens next?
There have been calls for a review of the voting system, but some TDs have said deputies simply need to follow the rules.
# Micheál Martin
FF leader asks Dooley and Collins to step down from frontbench pending probe into Dáil votes
Michéal Martin said he spoke with the deputies this morning who both agreed to cooperate fully with the Ceann Comhairle’s inquiry.
# Timmy Dooley
Ceann Comhairle orders 'urgent' probe after FF TD's Dáil votes recorded despite him being absent
Clare TD Timmy Dooley said a fellow party member cast a number of votes for him while he was absent from the Dáil chamber on Thursday.
# Safety
Fianna Fáil takes aim at funfairs ahead of summer holidays
The Health and Safety Funfair Amendment Bill looks to further regulate funfairs.
# trade rules
Concerns over Israeli embassy closing down over Occupied Territories Bill 'an overreaction' say FF
Government is likely to lose vote over legislation that would prohibit the purchase of goods or services produced in all settlements deemed illegal.
# next moves
'We're okay thanks': Fianna Fáil TDs pour cold water on Casey's plan to join party
Casey said he would be “joining Fianna Fáil” and that he intended to run in Donegal.
# presidential
'I don't see it going anywhere': Fianna Fáil TD dismisses prospect of Éamon Ó Cúiv running for president
A letter sent to councillors across the country calling for support for Ó Cúiv to be the next president of Ireland.
# occupied territories bill
Fianna Fáil to support trade ban with lands held by Israel, but embassy calls it 'immoral'
The Embassy of Israel said the boycott will not facilitate Ireland’s role or influence in the Middle East.
# Construction
How will Ireland 2040 be delivered? For starters, we need more brickies, tilers and plasterers
Ireland 2040 has big plans – but will we have enough construction workers to deliver government pledges.
# changing tack
'I won't be running a similar campaign' - Minister drops 'Welfare Cheats' approach, but says €500m fraud figure 'absolutely accurate'
“It’s difficult to say in hindsight whether I would have run such a campaign or not,” says Minister Regina Doherty.
# Attorney General
Fianna Fáil says there 'will be consequences' over judge's appointment
The party has called on the Attorney General to not accept her new Court of Appeal role.
# apply within
Ireland's corporate watchdog is suffering from a chronic staff shortage
There has been a 25% reduction in the number of staff at the ODCE in the past six years.
# factcheck
FactCheck: Did Fianna Fáil REALLY get union support for their zero hour contracts plan?
FactCheck steps in to resolve a row in the Dáil this week, and answer a reader’s request.
# not your mother
VIDEO: There was a HUGE row in the Dáil last night
“I did not come in here to do what your mother should have done and put manners on you.”
# O'Higgins report
It's two weeks on the minister's desk but we're still waiting for the garda whistleblower report
The government says the Attorney General is examining its contents first.
# Let's talk
Fianna Fáil 'will reject' Enda's offer for a partnership government
There are likely to be objections from a number of Fianna Fáil TDs to the proposal from Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
# The grand coalition
Fianna Fáil TD would have 'no problem' doing a deal with Fine Gael*
* But only if it’s the largest party, according to justice spokesperson Niall Collins.