Michael Collins criticises ministerial pay and fisheries failures
Michael Collins spoke in the Dáil about ministerial pay, wasteful public spending and fisheries policy. He criticised high ministerial salary packages and called for value for money while welcoming a Minister for Fisheries but questioning appointment choices.
He set out figures for Super Junior Ministers in 2025, saying the total annual package is approximately £200,000. Junior Ministers receive an additional ministerial salary of around £45,846, a Super Junior allowance of £16,000 and a travel allowance worth up to £32,535.
He listed recent examples of what he called wasteful expenditure in the Dáil, including a bike shed estimated at £335,000, a security hut costing nearly £1.4 million and a wall at the Workplace Relations Commission headquarters costing nearly £500,000.
He argued ministers should act as ministers for the state rather than for their constituency or party, saying some fail to inform all TDs when they visit constituencies and instead adopt party-aligned behaviour when on the ground.
He welcomed the creation of a Minister for Fisheries and Marine but said the post should have gone to someone from a fishing constituency. He recalled being told previously by the Taoiseach that no new minister positions could be created, yet a subsequent appointment produced such a post. He criticised Brexit outcomes that, he said, saw 25% of fishermen's quota given away with only a "dirty decommissioning deal" in return, raised concerns about non-Irish boats offloading at Castledon Bear and noted a statutory instrument introducing penalty points against fishermen.
He argued for restraint on unnecessary expenses, saying engagement with foreign leaders is useful but must not come at the cost of waste. He warned that the state cannot afford luxury spending when many homes struggle to keep the lights and heat on and urged ministers to show they provide value for money.
Ministerial pay and allowances
He set out figures for Super Junior Ministers in 2025, saying the total annual package is approximately £200,000. Junior Ministers receive an additional ministerial salary of around £45,846, a Super Junior allowance of £16,000 and a travel allowance worth up to £32,535.
Examples of alleged wasteful spending
He listed recent examples of what he called wasteful expenditure in the Dáil, including a bike shed estimated at £335,000, a security hut costing nearly £1.4 million and a wall at the Workplace Relations Commission headquarters costing nearly £500,000.
Concerns about ministerial conduct in constituencies
He argued ministers should act as ministers for the state rather than for their constituency or party, saying some fail to inform all TDs when they visit constituencies and instead adopt party-aligned behaviour when on the ground.
Fisheries, Brexit and enforcement measures
He welcomed the creation of a Minister for Fisheries and Marine but said the post should have gone to someone from a fishing constituency. He recalled being told previously by the Taoiseach that no new minister positions could be created, yet a subsequent appointment produced such a post. He criticised Brexit outcomes that, he said, saw 25% of fishermen's quota given away with only a "dirty decommissioning deal" in return, raised concerns about non-Irish boats offloading at Castledon Bear and noted a statutory instrument introducing penalty points against fishermen.
Call for value and restraint
He argued for restraint on unnecessary expenses, saying engagement with foreign leaders is useful but must not come at the cost of waste. He warned that the state cannot afford luxury spending when many homes struggle to keep the lights and heat on and urged ministers to show they provide value for money.
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Transcript
In 2025 Super Junior Ministers in Ireland receive a total annual salary package of approximately £200,000. Junior Ministers have an additional ministerial salary of around £45,846. A Super Junior allowance of £16,000. An additional travel allowance is worth up to £32,535. The public need to be getting value for their money with these ministers. The public is increasingly concerned about the wasteful spending occurring in the Dáil. Recent examples include a bike shed with an estimated cost of £335,000, a security hut costing nearly £1.4 million and a wall at the Workplace Relations Commission headquarters costing nearly £500,000. While it is beneficial to have ministers, it would be greatly appreciated if these ministers realised that they are ministers for the state and not ministers for their own constituency, because when they come to the constituencies they fail to inform all the TDs that they are arriving there. So they obviously put on the jersey here as being ministers of the state, but when they get into the constituency they become ministers for Fianna Fáil or Fianna Fáil or Fianna Fáil. It depends on the party that they are representing. While I believe it is important for our ministers and Taoiseach to engage with the American President to strengthen our relations, it is crucial to minimise unnecessary expenses. We cannot afford to waste money, especially when many homes in Ireland struggle to keep the lights and the heat on. It is not justifiable to spend on unnecessary luxuries. In 2020, when I requested a stand-alone Minister for Fisheries, I was informed by Micheál Martin that no new minister positions could be created. However, Pippa Hackett was later appointed to such a position. This deal means that there are further more ministers appointed. He told me at that time they could not be appointed. It is amazing how that can happen. We should have had a Minister for Fisheries, Marine and Islands. This time it is a Fisheries and Marine, which I do welcome. I am not going to discredit that. It is good to have it. I am pleased to have a Minister for Fisheries after many years of fighting for that. I am disappointed that the position was not given to someone from a fishing constituency. Nonetheless, I look forward to working with the new Minister for Fisheries and hope he will address some of the damage done, particularly since Brexit, when 25% of fishermen's quarters was given away. All we received in return was a dirty decommissioning deal. In my constituency, Castledon Bear is one of our largest fishing ports. It beggars belief when you drive down to the pier and see boats offloading and not one of these boats are Irish. I will also remind you of the statutory instrument that was signed to bring in penalty points against our own fishermen. I hope now that with a new Minister for Fisheries, things will change. I will work with our new Minister for Fisheries and do everything I can to help the forgotten industry. I do hope that this is not a case for jobs for the Buys Minister. I do wish the Ministers the very best. They have to show that they are value for money to the country. Certainly, it looks like we are way overshadowed with the Ministers.