Paul Murphy challenges Dáil move to block Q&A on Niall Collins
Paul Murphy criticised the Government's decision to block a question-and-answer session about Niall Collins' alleged corruption, arguing it undermines parliamentary accountability. He raised legal questions about the application of the Local Government Act to local area committees and said alleged conflicts should be investigated through proper legal channels.
Government blocks Q&A
Paul Murphy accused the Government of voting to prevent a Dáil question-and-answer session concerning Niall Collins, calling it an attack on basic parliamentary accountability. He said a previous description of such a session as a "kangaroo court" was an incredible attitude toward scrutiny.
Legal question on the Local Government Act
Murphy asked whether the Local Government Act applies at all to local area committees or whether only section 177 does not apply, saying he did not understand the legal basis for that claim. He pressed for clarification on how the law governs councillors' duties at local and electoral area committee meetings.
Allegation of conflict of interest and possible offence
Murphy argued that when Niall Collins took part in a meeting that agreed to put land up for sale that his wife had applied to buy, Collins was acting as a councillor. He said that failure to recuse or declare a conflict of interest would be not only a breach of the code of ethics but also a breach of legislation and an indictable offence.
Parliamentary role and separation of powers
Murphy emphasised that Parliament is not the forum to determine criminal guilt, stressing the separation of powers between the legislature and the courts. He said criminal allegations must be investigated and prosecuted through the proper legal processes, not decided by other members in the Dáil.
Chair intervention and proceedings
During the exchange the chair intervened, warning Murphy that he was misusing his time and noting there were six more speakers. Murphy was asked to resume his seat as the debate continued.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Thanks, Laskin Corlea. Teachta, your Government has just voted to block any question and answer session about Niall Collins' alleged corruption. You described a question and answer session in the Dáil with the Junior Minister as a kangaroo court. It is quite an incredible attitude to take to the basic idea of parliamentary accountability. If I could just take you up on what you just said to Deputy Farrell. Is your case that the Local Government Act does not apply at all to local, to electoral, area committees or is it just section 177 that does not apply to local area committees? I do not understand on what legal basis you suggest that is the case. When Niall Collins acted, participated in a meeting which agreed to put land up for sale that his wife had applied to buy, he was acting as a councillor. Surely the Local Government Act applies to him and therefore his failure to recuse himself, his failure to declare a conflict of interest is not only a breach of the code of ethics, but is a breach of that legislation and an indictable offence. You should respond. In many ways that is the point. This is a Parliament, not a kangaroo court. While you are a Member of Parliament and I am too, you do not have the authority to decide who has committed a crime and who has not, nor do you have the authority to investigate it. If an allegation is being made of a criminal nature, there is a proper process by which an investigation can be carried out and a prosecution carried out if warranted. It is not for you, to do that. That is not your role. We are a democracy. We do have a separation of powers between the legislative function of this place and the courts. The fact that you think that you are the person who should make that determination is exactly the problem. It is exactly the problem. Deputy, it is promised legislation. Please resume your seat. Deputy Murphy, I am now standing up. You are misusing the time available. There are six more speakers. Thank you.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
