Ninth Level Ireland

“Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Minister of State with special responsibility for higher education or officials on her behalf have ever directly or indirectly canvassed the president of a higher education institution on behalf of a job applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 17 December]

“Four years after the Limerick Leader first reported that two members of the UL finance department had been suspended after refusing the offer of a settlement package that included a confidentiality agreement, the employees known as Persons B and C have yet to have their situations resolved …” (more)

[Limerick Leader, 23 August]

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Trade Niall Collins TD has revealed that the number of students participating in the J1 Visa Programme has declined in recent years. The figures released to Deputy Collins reveal that the number of students heading to the US on the J1 Visa has declined from 4,347 in 2016 to 4,190 in 2017 to 3,522 in 2018 …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 21 July]

“Just €14.4 million has been allocated in Budget 2018 compared to allocations of €30.4 million and €14.4 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Ireland’s future economic prosperity is being put at risk by the apparent failure of the Government to adequately resource third level funding schemes, claims Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Niall Collins TD …” (more)

[Hot Press, 15 January]

“Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount allocated to the programme for research in third level institutions in 2018 …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 14 December]

“Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the Exchequer funding allocated to Science Foundation Ireland on an annual basis since it was established up to 2017; and the 2018 allocation …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 14 December]

“Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the academic and non-academic staff employed in all universities, higher education authority designated colleges and the institutes of technology during the periods December 2014, December 2015 and December 2016 respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 20 June]

“Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the latest findings by the EU’s research and innovation observatory (details supplied) which indicates that research and development funding here is largely focused on multinationals rather than SMEs and that research and development here is below that of average spends by firms in other EU nations; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 25 May]

“Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she is satisfied with the level of funding allocated to the programme for research in third level institutions on an annual basis in 2017; and the amount of funding that has been ring-fenced for research and frontier research in 2017 …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 23 March]

“Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on his meeting with the University of Limerick whistleblowers; the feedback provided to them; the course of action he now plans to follow; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 7 March]

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Jobs, Innovation, and Enterprise, Niall Collins has said that the future health of the Irish economy is being put at risk by the failure of Minister Mitchell O’Connor to adequately fund 3rd level research …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 26 February]

“Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total amount of funding allocated to the programme for research in third level institutions on an annual basis from 2010 to 2016 in tabular form; the total amount subsequently expended in each year; the amount of funding that has been allocated in 2017; the amount of funding that has been ring-fenced for research and frontier research in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 23 February]

“Former staff of the University of Limerick attended a protest outside the Dail this Wednesday to highlight the case of two women, suspended with pay, from the finance department for over 17 months. They were supported outside the Dail by deputies Willie O’Dea and Niall Collins, who previously raised their case in the Dail …” (more)

[Anne Sheridan, Limerick Leader, 2 November]

“Fianna Fail deputy Niall Collins, who raised the issues of the three whistleblowers in the Dail last year, responds to the Mazars’ review on allegations regarding UL and its implications, in a statement to the Limerick Leader …” (more)

[Limerick Leader, 11 February]

“The three whistleblowers who spoke out regarding irregular financial practices at the University of Limerick – as first revealed by the Limerick Leader last September – have been ‘totally vindicated’ by the findings of a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority, according to two local TDs …” (more)

[Anne Sheridan, Limerick Leader, 9 February]

“Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail): It is regrettable that the Minister of State’s senior colleague is not present, given her proximity to the University of Limerick as a representative for the Limerick region. In any event, the Minister of State will be aware that allegations were brought to my attention in 2012 pertaining to alleged improper payments at the University of Limerick. At the time, I brought that matter to the Committee of Public Accounts and …” (more)

[Dáil debates, 7 October]

“Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the authority or legislation under which she or her Department can establish or order an investigation into the activities of universities, including the misappropriation of funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 7 October]

“Deputies Niall Collins and Willie O’Dea have welcomed confirmation in the Dail that an independent review of allegations surrounding financial practices in the University of Limerick, and the treatment of the employees who have made those claims, will soon go ahead …” (more)

[Anne Sheridan, Limerick Leader, 8 October]

“The chief executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Tom Boland is to travel to Limerick on Tuesday to meet a ‘whistleblower’ who has made allegations of financial mismanagement at University of Limerick …” (more)

[Joe Humphreys, Irish Times, 3 October]

“Renewed calls have been made for an external examination of the University of Limerick’s expenses policy after more allegations came to light. Fianna Fail Justice spokesman Niall Collins wants an external examination to include the gardai and Revenue Commissioners as well as the Higher Education Authority …” (more)

[Anne Sheridan, Limerick Leader, 28 September]