Michael Collins (Limerick politician)

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Michael J. Collins (born November 1, 1940) is a Teachta Dála (TD) for Limerick West. Though still a member of Fianna Fáil he resigned from its parliamentary party when his name appeared on a list of tax defaulters. He now sits as a non-whipped member of Fianna Fáil in Dáil Éireann.

Michael Collins was born in Abbeyfeale, County Limerick in 1940.^[1] He is the son of James Collins and a brother of Gerard Collins, both Fianna Fáil members of Dáil Éireann. Collins has been involved in local politics for many years, serving as a councillor and chairman of the Limerick County Council. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1997 general election as a Fianna Fáil TD. He was re-elected in the election of 2002.

1 Tax Evasion
2 Response of Standards Commission
3 References
4 External link

[edit] Tax Evasion

Collins hit the headlines in 2003 when it was revealed that he had set up a bogus offshore account to evade paying tax. He settled the bill with the Revenue Commissioners, paying over €130,000 in taxes, interest and penalties. He also resigned from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party after it emerged he was on a list of tax defaulters. In June 2005 Collins announced that he would not seek re-election to the Dáil at the next general election due to ill-health. Later it was announced that his nephew, Niall Collins, a member of Limerick County Council representing the Bruff electoral area, will contest the seat for Fianna Fáil. Should Collins be successful it will mean that a member of the Collins family has held a seat in that constituency since the 1948 general election.

On 11 July 2006, Collins appeared in Rathkeale district court charged with two tax offences: cheating the Collector General and obtaining a tax clearance certificate by false pretences ^[2]. He was remanded on bail until September 28, 2006 when he is due to appear at Limerick District Court.

[edit] Response of Standards Commission

Deputy Collins provided a Tax Clearance Certificate and a Statutory Declaration to the Standards Commission on June 14, 2002 as evidence of his compliance with the Tax Acts.

When Collins name appeared in Iris Oifigiúil^[3] the State gazette, as the holder of a bogus non-resident bank account, the Standards Commission sought legal advice and were advised that , in the absence of a complaint, it did not have the legal authority to investigate Collins. The Commission advised the Minister for Finance of the limitations of the Ethics Acts which had been exposed through this matter.

Subsequently, the Chairman of the Committee on Members' Interests of Dáil Éireann made a written complaint and the Committee determined that an investigation be carried out by the Commission on foot of this. The investigation commenced but has been suspended pending the outcome of the Garda investigation and legal proceedings. The Standards Commission is concerned at the length of time this matter has been under consideration and urges that it be resolved without delay.