11 Facts About Niall Collins

Niall Collins was born on 30 March 1973 and is an Irish Fianna Fail politician who has served as a Minister for State since July 2020.

Niall Collins has been a Teachta Dala for the Limerick County constituency since 2016, and from 2011 to 2016 for the Limerick constituency and from 2007 to 2011 for the Limerick West constituency.

Niall Collins was first elected to Dail Eireann at the 2007 general election for Limerick West.

Niall Collins was elected on the first count, and the highest vote of any of the newcomers to the 30th Dail.

Niall Collins's uncle Gerry Collins is a former Minister and MEP, who was a TD for Limerick West from 1967 to 1997.

Niall Collins has served in various Fianna Fail Front Bench roles, he has served as Opposition Spokesperson for Justice and Equality from 2011 to 2016, Opposition Spokesperson for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation from May 2016 to March 2018 and Opposition Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade from March 2018 to June 2020.

Niall Collins was appointed Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science with responsibility for Skills and Further Education in July 2020.

In February 2023, political news website The Ditch published a story claiming that Niall Collins had misled Limerick County Council about his place of residence in a 2001 planning application.

Niall Collins told the Dail that the article in The Ditch was "misleading and inaccurate".

The Tanaiste Micheal Martin defended Niall Collins, saying that he was entitled to seek planning permission.

The sale to O'Connor was formally approved in 2008 at a meeting of Limerick County Council, for which the minutes included "The disposal of this site was agreed by the members of the Bruff Electoral Area at the meeting held in January 2007", in which Niall Collins had participated; Niall Collins had been elected TD in May 2007 while the sales process was proceeding.