Limerick TD Niall Collins 'prepared' to make Dail statement over land sale

Deputy Niall Collins: Confident a government can be formed to avoid a second election

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THE TÁNAISTE Micheál Martin says Minister of State Niall Collins is prepared to make a statement in the Dail relating to the the sale of a property in Patrickswell almost 15 years ago.

Allegations relating to the sale of the lands have been published by The Ditch website in recent days and Mr Collins has come under pressure to clarify matters in the Dail.

The Limerick TD broke his silence on the matter when he issued a brief statement on Monday night.

Limerick TD insists sale of council-owned lands in Limerick village was 'transparent and open'

Further documents relating to the sale of the lands have been released by Limerick City and County County Council this Tuesday and Socialist TD Paul Murphy has written to the Ceann Comhairle seeking to have the matter discussed in the Dail.

Being questioned by reporters in Dublin this Tuesday morning, the Tánaiste said Mr Collins has not broken any law, regarding the decision by the then Limerick County Council to put the property up for sale.

Micheál Martin said it is the local authority that has the statutory and legal power to dispose of council-owned property and not a local area committee.

"A local area committee has no statutory authority to dispose of a property," he said.

"Niall Collins wasn't on the council when that land was disposed of by a decision of that council in 2008 - he had been elected (as a TD) the previous year - in May of 2007 but he is prepared to go before the house to make a statement and I understand the Whip is making arrangements in that regard," he added.