West Cork TD Michael Collins eager to get things done

He shares the same name of a famous political figure and Independent TD Michael Collins could have a lot to offer the party.

The first-time Independent TD for Cork South West is now willing to talk to any party in a bid to gain services and funding for his constituency and to help form a government.

The new deputy had expected a strong vote in his own Mizen Peninsula but received support from right across the constituency receiving 6,765 votes.

“West Cork would have always been seen as a Fine Gael stronghold since the time of Collins, but I built on my victory in the local council elections,” said Mr Collins, who was elected to the three-seater constituency on the fifth count.

Putting the people of West Cork first and protecting rural Ireland are a priority for the TD who only entered politics in local elections in 2014.

Married to Patricia, the father of three teenage children first became involved in politics out of “pure frustration”.

The community campaigner said: “Put very simply if politicians were doing their job right I would not be where I am today, I did it out of pure frustration.

“I was part of around 25 community groups around west Cork. People were holding meetings and politicians were failing to turn up,” he said.

Mr Collins, from Lowerton three miles outside Schull, is a dry stock cattle farmer,

He also has been involved the local Tidy Towns, community council and is a board member of the West Cork Development Partnership.

He describes himself as a “middle of the road” Independent, adding that not all non-party TDs are “whingers” and is eager to get things done as oppose to shout and complain from the opposition.

Mr Collins is willing to sit down with any party and since becoming elected to the 32nd Dáil has already met some group leaders and like-minded Independents.

The delivery of broadband, a proper road network and the creation of jobs will be top of his priority list as a member of Dáil Éireann.

“The roads issue in West Cork is important and the issue of broadband and mobile coverage is massive.

“I don’t expect Google to arrive in Goleen or Castletownbere but I do think the number of small and medium size businesses could be increased dramatically if given the support and if we were given broadband.”

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