Niall Collins
Niall Collins (born 30 March 1973) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who has served as Minister of State for Skills and Further Education since July 2020. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Limerick County constituency since 2016, and previously from 2011 to 2016 for the Limerick constituency and from 2007 to 2011 for the Limerick West constituency.[1]
Niall Collins | |
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Minister of State for Skills and Further Education | |
Assumed office 1 July 2020 | |
Taoiseach | Micheál Martin |
Preceded by | New office |
Teachta Dála | |
Assumed office February 2016 | |
Constituency | Limerick County |
In office February 2011 – February 2016 | |
Constituency | Limerick |
In office May 2007 – February 2011 | |
Constituency | Limerick West |
Personal details | |
Born | Limerick, Ireland | 30 March 1973
Nationality | Irish |
Political party | Fianna Fáil |
Spouse(s) | Eimear Collins (m. 2010) |
Relations |
|
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | Limerick Institute of Technology |
Website | niallcollinstd |
He served as a member of Limerick County Council for the Bruff Local electoral area, being first elected to the council at the 2004 local elections.[2] Collins was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 2007 general election for Limerick West. He was elected on the first count; he received the ninth-highest vote in the country and the highest vote of any of the newcomers to the 30th Dáil.
His grandfather James Collins represented Limerick West in the Dáil from 1948 until 1967. His uncle Gerry Collins is a former Minister and MEP, who was a TD for Limerick West from 1967 to 1997. Another uncle, Michael J. Collins, sat for Limerick West in the Dáil from 1997 until he retired in 2007.
He has served in various Fianna Fáil 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.
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.
See also
References
- "Niall Collins". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
- "Niall Collins". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 28 February 2009.
External links
Oireachtas | ||
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Preceded by Michael J. Collins (Fianna Fáil) |
Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Limerick West 2007–2011 |
Constituency abolished |
New constituency | Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Limerick 2011–present |
Incumbent |
Political offices | ||
New office | Minister of State for Skills and Further Education 2020–present |
Incumbent |