People Before Profit Td Calls For The Tánaiste To Withdraw His Diversionary Attack On On-Line Media Outlet, The Ditch 

Collins’ statement simply confirms he breached the code of conduct and Local Government Act – he should go

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has called for Tánaiste Micheál Martin to withdraw his diversionary attack on the online media outlet, The Ditch, made in the Dáil today. 

Deputy Murphy said: “The Ditch has been an important source of information and reporting that has led to the recent resignations of both Damien English TD and Robert Troy TD. In response, the Tánaiste has now made a series of claims and innuendos in the Dáil today that were clearly designed to undermine The Ditch”.

Deputy Murphy also said: “This latest attack follows Micheál Martin’s recent unfounded attack on People Before Profit as ‘Putin’s puppets’. Now he is making the same charge against his media critics”.

“The Tánaiste appears to be on a dangerous political trajectory, with recent attempts to delegitimise both political opponents and media critics. Micheál Martin should immediately withdraw his allegations against The Ditch”.

“Niall Collins’ statement to the Dáil simply confirms that he breached the code of conduct for Councillors and Local Government Act. He participated in a meeting without declaring an interest and withdrawing from the meeting. Despite his attempt to confuse the matter, his wife most definitely did have a pecuniary interest in the “matter” of putting the property up for sale. Every day that he remains as Minister will be a reminder to people that the days of stroke politics of Fianna Fáil are not over.”