Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to make a personal statement on last Thursday's voting. I sincerely apologise for my role in what happened. I apologise to the Ceann Comhairle and all Members of Dáil Éireann. It would never have been my intention to bring such negative and undue attention to our work here. We all understand the immense privilege it is to serve in this House. To the people of Limerick and the wider public I offer my sincere apologies.

Last Tuesday the Ceann Comhairle informed the House that he had instructed the Clerk of the Dáil to carry out a review. This review and its associated recommendations were discussed here earlier. I wish to state that I fully and openly engaged with the Clerk of the Dáil and his staff in their work in preparing this report. In doing so I confirmed, as the record shows, that I voted for Deputy Dooley a number of times in the electronic voting session on Thursday in the mistaken belief he was still in the Chamber. It was wrong. I fully accept that I should not have done so. The Ceann Comhairle stated last Tuesday and again today that a complaint has been lodged in relation to my actions under the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001 and that this is a statutory process to be undertaken by the Committee on Members' Interests. I assure him and all Members that I will fully engage and comply fully with this process.

In conclusion, I reiterate my deep regret and sincere apologies to the Ceann Comhairle and all Members of the House.

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