Results 201-220 of 11,785 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (21 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: Question 216: To ask the Minister for Finance the position of a property (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35411/08]

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: It is beyond doubt that the activities of a tiny number of members of the Garda Síochána in Donegal besmirched and stained the good name of that force that has so loyally served the State and the people for many years. They have brought shame and dishonour to their uniform and to the memory of their colleagues who paid the ultimate price in the discharge of their duty as guardians of the...

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: Mr. Justice Morris made it clear that they should not have pursued their actions unless more detailed information and evidence was produced, in fairness to those who were the subject of the allegations. He stated: At the very least, Deputy Higgins should have insisted on a meeting with Mr. Togher and Deputy Howlin should have pressed Mr. Martin Giblin S.C. for further detail and evidence....

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: He states: "This was all the more important since the two conduits could be regarded as partisan in their approach to the allegations and were seeking the establishment of a Tribunal: this was also sought by the authors of the facsimile".

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: It is important that those extracts from the Morris tribunal are put on the record. The direct action of two Members of the House, Deputy Brendan Howlin and former Deputy Jim Higgins, gave rise to the most grievous, unwarranted and untruthful allegations about the character of two of Ireland's most senior police officers. This was character assassination at its worst.

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: The good name and good character of two of our finest gardaí was taken, abused and bandied around——

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: That is withdrawn.

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: It is withdrawn.

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: I thank the Chair.

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: I turn now to the second matter. A myth has been propagated in this country and is now taken as a given by those who ought to know better. It casts Deputy Howlin and the then Deputy Higgins as the David of the piece, who somehow managed to slay Goliath in the form of the Government, the State and so on, and the outfall of this was the setting up of the Morris tribunal.

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: At one point, as noted in the evidence given by him to Mr. Justice Morris, Deputy Howlin sought to pretend that he had the power to recall the Dáil because he objected to a line of questioning on his sources by the Garda. His subsequent explanation at the tribunal concerning this matter is that things had become fractious with the Garda.

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: Should anyone in this House or outside it take the trouble to check the record with a view to establishing the genesis of the Morris tribunal, they will find quite a different story from the one peddled around this town by those pushing a particular political agenda. On 20 November 2001, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform opposed an opportunistic Private Members' motion that...

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: I thank the Chair. It showed utter and complete denial of the fundamental constitutional rights of any citizen of this State. The so-called great liberals of the Labour Party, cast in their self-appointed role as the political guarantors of the civil and human rights of citizens, then showed their true colours. As for Fine Gael, we all know what they are against, then and now. Perhaps...

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: Third, on 7 February 2001 and on 28 May 2001, the Minister made it clear that he was not against the principle of a public inquiry, but that he had to be guided by legal advice to avoid prejudicing civil and criminal proceedings. I need hardly spell out to the House what the reaction of the Members opposite would have been had the Minister pushed ahead on their say so, and had such action...

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: May I finish?

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: The Minister stated: As far back as February 2001, I made it clear to Dáil Éireann that I had an open mind as regards the setting up of a tribunal. I stressed that I wanted to see the truth of this matter determined. I said that I wanted to see public confidence in the Garda restored. However, the question I posed then went to the heart of the problem. How do we do this in an open and...

Morris Tribunal: Statements (22 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: ——the machinery and processes which ultimately led to the uncovering of the sordid business in the County Donegal Garda division, history will judge his stewardship of justice well.

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (29 Oct 2008)

Niall Collins: Question 279: To ask the Minister for Transport the position in relation to negotiations regarding customs and border patrol pre-clearance between the Irish and US authorities; when he will give the go-ahead to Shannon Airport to begin building the new facility for US pre-clearance; if he expects the new facility in Shannon to be operational for the start of summer 2009; and if he will make...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (4 Nov 2008)

Niall Collins: Question 167: To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 21 October 2008, if the Revenue Commissioners hold a charge over the said properties. [37836/08]

Gangland Crime: Motion: (Resumed) (19 Nov 2008)

Niall Collins: This debate is welcome. Unfortunately, it is also timely because of the tragic death of Shane Geoghegan over a week ago. I knew Shane Geoghegan personally. He grew up in Patrickswell from where I came and where his family farmed. They moved later to Dooradoyle. I played rugby with Shane Geoghegan in Garryowen rugby club and togged out in the same dressingroom as he did more times than I...