Niall Collins was entitled to seek planning permission, says Martin

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that, having gone through the documents himself, "we need to all accept now" that Niall Collins was entitled to seek planning permission at the time.

Defending party colleague Niall Collins, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: "If you look at the county development plan in 1999, from what I have seen, there is no question but that he was entitled to seek planning permission." Picture: RollingNews.ie

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has defended Niall Collins, saying that information about where the Limerick Fianna Fáil TD was living at the time of a planning application was immaterial.

It comes as Opposition TDs have argued Mr Collins has not addressed whether a form submitted as part of the 2001 planning application contained incorrect information on where he was living at the time.