Collins safe as Martin seeks code of conduct

A cross-party ban on Oireachtas members trying to influence judges has been urged by Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin as he refuses to give into demands to sack his justice spokesman, Niall Collins.

Mr Martin defended Mr Collins’s controversial decision to ask a judge to spare a convicted drug dealer prison, as he said the Limerick TD was a “young politician” who had learned his lesson and deserved another chance.

Mr Collins, 41, admitted he had made a mistake, and insisted he would never do so again.

The Fianna Fáil justice spokesman denied engaging in inappropriate contact with the judge by calling for a non-custodial term as the drug dealer has four children, and their mother recently took her own life.

Mr Martin called on a pan-Oireachtas effort to draw up guidelines for members making contact with judges. “I would accept that there should be a code. Collectively, all political parties should re-engage with a view to developing a code,” Mr Martin said.

However, the Fianna Fáil leader insisted he would not sack Mr Collins.

“He’s not the first politician to have done this. In that context, many politicians in the past who wrote such letters are in Government today and I think have moved on,” he told RTÉ.

Mr Collins insisted what had occurred would not restrict his capacity to comment on drugs cases and sentencing in general.

“Would I do it again? The answer is no,” Mr Collins told Limerick Live 95. “What I have been charged with is inappropriate contact and seeking to interfere with the course of justice. This not the case. I presented it through the right channels.

“I wasn’t seeking to influence the judge. I was making a submission which was purely on compassionate grounds, based on the very tragic circumstances and we know how the children lost their mother.”

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton echoed Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s scathing criticism of Mr Collins.

“Every politician understands, or should understand, the fundamental independence of the judiciary and the political system,” said Mr Bruton.

“This was something totally inappropriate for Niall to have done and I think it clearly is a serious matter and he needs to sort that out.”