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HE HAS THE backing of the Taoiseach but multiple politicians have called for Minister for Justice Alan Shatter to resign.
The man himself is due to give a statement on yesterday’s extraordinary revelations about the gardaí in the Dáil this morning.
He is not expected to step down from his Cabinet position, despite pressure from the Opposition benches.
What do you think? Should Minister Alan Shatter resign?
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Shatter either knew, which means he lied and must go. Or he didn’t know which makes him incompetent and still means he must go…. Bye Bye Alan.
It will be interesting to see if his colleagues hang him out to dry or stand by him. From watching Minister Noonan on prime time, one would assume it would be the latter.
Everyone seems to be scared of him for some reason. Either way, he should have more respect for the electorate and his position and resign.
He should have been removed after his insolvency laws which are a de facto bank guarantee.
Alan Shatter: I know nothing.
He should be sacked and lose all pension.
I think he should be sacked and shouldn’t get his pension. Gross neglligence at the very least.
Brian you’re right if he did know and did nothing then he is responsible and should go. But not knowing dose not make anyone incompetence. How something is delt with after finding out decides competence.
Noonan has been backing up murderers,lying judges and thieving friends for years now
When did any politician care or much less respect the electorate????
I would imagine they all have so much dirt on each other they have no choice but to back him. He has no place in politics and never had. Immature self serving A@#hole. Good riddance to him.
Is he from Barcelona ?
hi
Resign???? He should be sacked. And the Attorney General position needs to be looked at too.
AG has certainly puttered along beneath the radar alright. Agreed.
The latest Garda crisis is one that demands complete reform of the force and the removal of political oversight and the creation of an independent policing board which over sees the force.
They need to be dragged kicking and screaming in to the 21st Century.
The days of AGS choosing when to obey the laws and when to break them and having contempt for Democratic oversight have to end.
Taoiseach needs to resign and shatter needs good kicking
Time for him to go he is damaging the position of minister of Justice.
He won’t be sacked and he won’t resign, kenny isn’t man enough to sack him he knows Shatter knows too much about him.
he will never resign, little known fact when a TD is elected in to the dail the first thing that happens is that their integrity is removed, he couldn’t give a flying f**k about the electorate he knows he will not be there in the next dail.
He should resign. Not many TDs can claim to have a cosy job as an erotic novelist to just walk into
Labour ,FFand FG have abandoned the Irish people ,they have sold out our people ,betrayed our country ,all in the name of this monster European Onion ,these gangsters have deliberately Bankrupted our country,allowed an invasion of our country,deported our own people,handed our Sovereignty over to the Germans and Brussels,they are now destroying our health servises,our education is being changed to a muslim way of teaching,now they are destroying our Police Force,next in line will be our Defence Forces ,ie our Neutrality ,all in the name of Europen Disunity .Arrest these Gangsters who when becoming Elected betray ,Seize the assets the have,give them no bail,revoke the thirty pieces of silver lottery pensions,it is time to GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH,OUR COUNTRY IS NOT FOR SALE.We as a tiny nation cannot sustain 400 billion Debt ,we must Default ,Depart ,Devalue,Deport and Detain if we are ever to survive as a nation
Euuuuuugh! watching my skin crawl across the floor
Kindly elaborate Ann
He should have been sacked , it looks like they picked up the arrogant manual from fianna fail and learned it off by heart.
I think thats a standard book every party get when you join the world of politics, not necessary fine fail!
maybe so , but fianna fail brought it to a whole new level
This man was Minister for Justice when the department was attempting to deport an innocent man to France. There is no insulation for Shatter or his AG.
I don’t know Cathal; I’d argue that this Government is far more smug than Fianne Fail were. Take Reilly shamelessly sorting out his own constituency and owning shares in private nursing homes while being the Minister for Health, look at Phil Hogan’s handling (or lack thereof) of the Irish Water debacle and the fiasco that was the collection of the Local Property Tax, look at Shatter’s arrogance and disconnection from ordinary people and to crown it all look at Mr Kenny who backs his incompetent ministers to the hilt and tells us all to be happier and that there shouldn’t be any more bad news on the radio.
On the “Labour” side of things, Gilmore is a hypocrite and toady (imagine how vocal he’d be if he were in opposition right now), Pat Rabbitte is one of the most arrogant, self serving pr#cks to ever darken the door of the Dail (and that’s saying something) and Burton portrays herself as a champion of the little people, banging on about things like “living wages” while simultaneously implementing cuts to the most vulnerable in society.
I am no Fianne Fail voter or supporter. I will not vote for them, Fine Gael or Labour again for as long as I live in this country but I recall Cowen and Co were afraid to address the electorate, preferring to make pointless, whimsical cabinet reshuffles to make it seem as thought they were doing something. I suppose they’re all smug because their heads are in the trough while we look on and keep the trough full for them. No longer though. Independent all the way.
Only 82% says yes
Get Him Out, He cares nothing about Justice or People. I have made several attempts to meet him over the years due to the murder of my Son and the Garda who allowed it to happen. He has refused to meet with me. He is covering up corruption by some members of the police force. Alan Shatter is not a good man. GET OUT!
It’s not about ‘smugness’ – it’s about ‘failure’……..and more pertinently – ‘can’t be seen to be failing’!
82% he shoud go, 5% don’t know, seriously??? 11% FG/Labour supporters. what about the other 2%, what’s happened to them?
Id say that pretty well sums it up , and agree that Independents may just be the way ahead. one problem with independents though might be that it would be all about their local agendas and not enough about the greater good for all nationally . But as you point out that seems a problem with party politics also.
Not only should he resign. He should apologise to the country for being useless!
shatter, reilly and hogan just stumble from one debacle to another and it goes from bad to worse.
In the meantime kenny just tells his *Employers* that “shatter is a hard worker and he has full confidence”.
I wonder what’s next !!!!!
And no coincidence that these three muppeteers ‘bullied the troops’ on Kenny’s ‘behalf’ when snivelly Bruton n co got notions of themselves…..thus ensuring that they acquired their ministerial bounties of choice, with added impugnity!!
He should have resigned weeks ago , an arrogant politician that will hold on until forced by Enda , shame on F G
Minister Shatter is a very ignorant little man he should go but first he and the ex commissioner should be hauled in to answer questions truthfully
The truthfully bit could prove to be beyond them!!
His position is untenable. He has sacked the “Confidential” recipient, Callinan is now gone – both of these people failed in their roles.
As a Barrister, if he was aware or suspected that Client/Solicitor calls were recorded then this is a very serious matter.
As Minister of Justice, if he didn’t know then he should have.
It is inconceivable that he was not made aware of it – sadly for him the penalty points debacle has highlighted that even with correct information, he acted wrongly.
Enda will cut him loose after the weekend.
Didnt sound likely after endas defence of him yesterday in the dail…
This word untenable came out of the FF leaders mouth yesterday like fire crackers going off it’s not so long ago when this word was fired at FF..
James – Red C polls out this weekend, they will truly reflect the public mood about this and if FG fall in these polls then. Enda will discard him to save himself and the party.
The Guards are putting out the line that these were recorded and sent to Phoenix Park and just filed and never listened to, it was just a thing that never stopped.
30 years of illegality all because everyone was too rigid or lazy or conformist to ask why are we doing this, if it is pointless.
That excuse makes them look even worse than illegal wire tapping.
Either way it is another massive black mark on how the force is mismanaged and stuck in a time warp.
He is a Solicitor not a Barrister. Although he did quit embarrassingly try to have himself recognized as a senior barrister by the AG. All because he wasn’t allowed sit on the senior council bench. He put hundreds of jobs at risk and tried to bring in a regime where he over saw the legal system in Ireland. where 50% of legal actions are against the state. A practice that would have been legal in very few countries. Among them China and North Korea. All because he wasn’t allowed sit where he wanted to.
The Guerin report is due in a month and apparently Garda McCabe has said they haven’t even contacted him yet (as of yesterday I believe). Sounds like they were attempting a whitewash.
No he shouldn’t resign. He’d have too much time on his hands, and he might write another novel.
If his next novel is anything like his day job it will be a comedy of errors
Kenny’s lack of backbone is the root of the problem and it looks like Shatter has him in the palm of his hand.As for Labour or FG. back benchers one word describes them(SPINELESS)
FG and Labour should merge and call themselves the “Jellyfish” Party or maybe the “Marshmallow” Party because your right; They have no spine.
Without doubt yes!,
Sacked full stop no pension no pay offs
I totally agree..Should be sacked. So much corruption in this small Island of ours. Every week there is something new. but unfortunalely not good news. Shame on them !!!
Enda should resign too.
He should step down as he is corrupt but then again are all fine gael! He has done himself no favours so if he actually had any common sense he would do the decent thing and step down
For the 9 people who have red thumbed Veronicas comment, you’ve mighty short memories if you don’t recall that when FG were bankrupt, not that long ago, they were paying people under the table. This is public knowledge and easily verified with a bit of googling. FG the rich peoples party….
U have to ask!!!!!
the people of Ireland should have woken up yesterday and forced the sacking of this anal shatter, he should have his double pension revoked also!! wake up before it’s too late ;)
Enda et all are seasoned in politics. Shatter should be gone by now usually, either pushed, or jumped. Only reason I can think of for the blind support of Shatter is that something more damaging can come out should he be replaced. Eg another minister may be too forthcoming with what has been found out.
I agree with you Joe Morris there is something so wrong they are afraid of him because he can bring them including Kenny and then the rubberneck Labour shower would go running trying to save there own necks.
He should be sacked and struck off as he knew the law was being broken.
There should be a No he should be fired option.
It is a shame as he has a massive amount of ability. As able as he is however, humility (or even the capacity to pretend) has been beyond him throughout his career.
I don’t mind having politicians that I don’t particularly like as long as they are good at what they do. He has politicised one of the four great offices of state in a manner not seen since Sean Doherty and the Brian Lenihan presidency debacle.
A fish rots from the head down. If this is a democratic revolution, then I am King Kong’s uncle.
That mans ability was destructive. He chose to make work for the legal profession rather than legislate effectively.
He should announce that he’s gay and living in sin with a transgender person (he’s not btw) – that’s the only thing that will save him now.
I think it’s time FG stepped down……..not just Shatter. To think that a Party, could stand over the capers of the last while, is beyond arrogance and an utter insult to the Public!
Absolutely .. But would dread the thoughts of Noonan getting it again
No, he should not resign. He should be arrested, tried, convicted and given a suitable prison sentence. And so should the other thieves, liars, fraudsters, and possibly murderers in Dail Eireann, and those who have left Dail Eireann and are enjoying the payoff, (big pensions). All their illgotten gains should be confiscated by CAB. All members of the ‘partys’, who supported and voted for the current and former gangs of criminals should be forced to compensate the Nation by having their property confiscated also.
I Agree with you Patricia. We need to be heard, We need to March and do whatever it takes in a non-violent way.
We have been dictated to for long enough!
This is no longer a Democratic Society. We are foolish if we believe it is.
Let our voices count!
EVIL WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL WHILE GOOD PEOPLE DO NOTHING….
Jases Patricia we would have no TD’s in the Dial if they done that
Shouldn’t even be a question. If Enda Kenny had any balls he’d have sacked him. But he doesn’t and Shatter won’t walk.
No doubt he must go and the terms should include without pension. There’s a few of his cronies he could take with him like James Reilly
Silly question really!!
Audrey. I don’t understand the whole excellent politician argument. If he is asked a question by the opposition he appears to look at that person like a sub human. When he is outside the Dáil he does the same with people on the street. There is massive evidence in black and white that suggests he did the same within the ranks of the Gardaí i.e with the likes of the Maurice McCabe and others. He also was caught drink driving last year and it took the guy two days to come up with an argument for why he was over the limit. A quick Google search of factors which meddle with roadside tests is asthma inhalers.
People in this country have to stop backing others based on their record and friendship as opposed to their actions. We did this with Neary, Priests, Politicians, bankers. It has to end this guy needs to go along with senior gardaí of whom caused this crisis of confidence in the justice system. Put it like this I take it your a law abiding citizen of this state like myself. I don’t know about you but I don’t feel it is acceptable that I will be punished by the justice system for something, when Minister Shatter and senior Gardái feel it is okay to dodge drink driving charges, quash penalty points for celebrities, bully honorable members of the rank and file Gardaí. Fine Gael promised an end to these practices. It’s all disgraceful.
Here is a guy of whom failed to give a breath test for drink driving last year because he was asthmatic. It took him two days to answer that question and seems to me it was an excuse to escape mass public condemnation. Has anyone ever challenged that statement and looked for a doctor’s report? Was the Garda’s report quashed because he stunk of ale and his most senior boss was on front of him? Maybe he was asthmatic but he was drunk on the night and it was an excuse? Ask yourself this Gay Byrne has cut road deaths here in this state during his time in the RSA, is it acceptable that most people adhere to the messages put out by the RSA today when a senior minister potentially drink drives, quashes penalty points, and bullies Gardaí of whom speak out? And worse is how he is backed up by those around him for being a nice guy and a hard worker…………….Is it Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil in government?
Keep an eye out for further leaks..now that Callinan has been shafted by Shatter, he has no reason to protect him any longer.
Defiantly it’s Fine Gael no it’s not Gay Byrne Could be a Shiner just saying it could be yah could be??
Good luck Alan you are the creator of your own down fall , appointing all those political judges too lying to the Dail and to thinking you were above everyone else well everyone is looking down on you now.
Should he resign? He should have ALREADY resigned.
Reminds me of the Haughey days, unbelievable.
yea shatter should be sacked….and a new police force as well…..the guards are not the wonderfull police force the media were telling us for years…yes the vast majority are hard working guards..but there is also a signiafenct number who are not….so lets not kid ourselves any more
So should the people backing him……
I don’t think he has done anything wrong
He should go maybe he is a good reforming Minister but he has had too many issues e.g. the asthma excuse at checkpoint the naming of Mick Wallace on Prime Time and GSOC and last but not least saying the whistleblowers refused to co-operate
That must have almost chocked you to have to say it been a Fine Gael’er
I hope he stays he is destroying Fine Gael, He makes Kenny look like a confused cowardly little puppy, afraid to cross shatter by doing what the country is shouting for. But when did these guys ever listen to the people.
Everyone make mistakes in their lives and in there jobs. I believe that Alan Shatter may have made a mistake with the Whistleblowers.
However, in life and in business you personally identify the mistake, learn from the mistake, admit to the mistake to those around you and move forward.
In Alan Shatter’s case he may be hugely guilty of pomposity and arrogance for he has openly done neither of the above.
Yes, he made a mistake.
No, he shouldn’t be fired or resign for the mistake.
Yes, he should admit the mistake and his arrogance.
Yes, up to now he has acted on our behalf with integrity and honesty.
No, he isn’t a cheat, a drunk, a murderer, a thief or sexual deviant like some other politicians.
Now that the Top Cop is gone, let’s focus on how we can insure that the Garda systems are reviewed and restructured ( remember there are two ongoing internal investigations regarding the stolen property of victims in the gardai) and that Whistleblowers systems are in place and bolstered to support Whistleblowers.
He didn’t make a mistake, he made an on purpose. He knew, when he accused the whistleblowers of not cooperating with the penalty point investigation, that this was not true. At this point he had a draft of the report which said otherwise.
We are now being asked to believe that he was unaware of the recorded calls – this is either complete ignorance or incompetence.
If the top cop had to go because of his failures, the logic dictates that he must go too.
How has he acted on our behalf with honesty the two whistle blowers are acting on our behalf with honesty and the minister for justice has lied in the dail about them and still will not take back the lies he has said about them
Seriously….
If the Top Cop had not said the Whistleblowers were disgusting, then he would not have had to resign. The fact here is that the Commissioner appeared to be leave that Garda Whistleblowers are horrible and disturb morale in the ranks. His opinions were old school and appeared that they wouldn’t change.
His personal opinions have nothing to do with Alan Shatter. However, now that we know that there are some cultural issues within the Gardai. .. The problem now lies with Alan Shatter to support the re-culturalization of the Gardai.
Ah Marlon, if you think Callinan retired because of that then you are sorely mistaken. The timeline tells us all. Enda informed on Sunday Evening, sends his aid to Callinan on Monday morning, who retires on Tuesday.
As an aside, when Shatter defended Callinan, he defended those personal opinions.
Alan shatter him self lied in the dail about the whistle blowers if the top cop left over what he tought of the whistle blowers how can shatter stay when he has lied about them
@Enda.. Does the Minister’s past positive deeds go without notice?
If you’ve managed people, you know that you don’t leave your subordinates out to dry when they become problematic. You try to work the person and coach them to success. If this doesn’t work you work them out of the system.
Marlon, he was doing his job in the past as he should have been doing, it’s no defence for this situation now.
What’s happening now is to grave it over shadows any of his past deeds he should be sacked take a look at what’s happening tapped phone calls gsoc bugged lies about the whistle blowers he is the minster that leads justice he s a disgrace
No no Marlon, if your subordinates fail to keep you fully informed of the relevant issues and you stand by them when the s*** hits the fan, then you both go.
I truly understand your chain of thought and opinion. However, I find that the blame game is endemic in most businesses and cultures… And Ireland is no different. In fact, blame is particularly high here in Ireland. Culturally, Ireland is used to being dictated to…. Being told what is and what is not…. It is only recently that we’ve been given choices. As a result, whenever a person of influence finds themselves behind the eight ball… The public has field day, regardless of the persons abilities….
Blame is about history, fear and the past. We need to refocus on aspiration, hope and the future. I think more politicians like Alan Shatter who is in the business of long-term planning for the country as opposed to Mick Wallace who is a short-term planner and thinks only of himself…. Will bring a better Ireland.
Marlon, I do understand what you are saying – but this is not about blame, this is the game our politicians have always played, Irish people have moved on, we have progressed – we don’t want to blame anyone, we want them to accept responsibility.
Sadly in his statement today, Alan Shatter said that he “inherited” this problem, again blaming someone else for the problems of today.
We need a political party to understand the problems they have inherited, we need them to bring them to the fore and deal with them.
Alan Shatter did not do this, he hid them, he stood by those who hid them and only when faced with resigning did he then try to make amends, after two of the other people involved were either sacked or resigned.
it’s not good enough, it never was, but it really isn’t now.
WHAT a load of CRAP
Corruption, Whitewash Criminals Like Mr. Shatter, Kenny, Hogan, Gilmore, Howlin take Away Government pOwers tHat was Already defeated by The People to begin With, the 30th Amendment it should have never been put in place in the first place as the Referendum giving Oireacthas powers was already a Defeat Referendum in Oct 2011 But Shatter replaced it along with Marie Whelan District Attorney all are Corrupt in commissioners and Attorneys and judges that were selected by Shatter himself 11 Judges in 2011 and 10 more all Privy Multinational judges all Illegal as we own an Independent Court not a Martial Law Federal Court, Common Law just, so Don’t Trust Shatter and i want him to Leave right now along with other Corrupt cronies, like Hogan, and Howlin, and kenny, and a few more even the criminal Puppet masters Calley try to claim Shatter was innocent, Innocent my Foot, F… them all out of the dial including FF, SF, F……. Gangsters and mafia who are running the country into the ground
Yes he should go. In politics, when you become the story, you are finished regardless of the facts. But just before he goes, the Coalition should pass their most severe measures yet (if they haven’t already). No one will notice. Cynical I know.
Like Mr. Shatter or loathe him he has been skewered by the senior personnel in his Department most of whom are most likely to owe their jobs to Fianna Fáil.
That’s probably true John – but he’s made it easy for them.
Considering he has misled the Dail on several occasions and is lying about the whole call recording situation, while obviously being covered for by his buddy the trustworthy EX-commissioner, he should not be given the time to resign and should just be drop kicked out of government. And to add to that he also took the state jet, which we all pay for, after being denied permission. He is a rogue that makes his own rules and deserves nothing less than a P45 stapled to his forehead.
11% said No? This poll must be rigged.
No. He is an excellent politician in difficult times.
Another one
When will Irish politicians apologise to the citizens of Ireland for selling them out for thirty pieces of silver to the corrupt EU?
The answered questions continue to pile up –
What has happened to cheap gas for Ireland?
What has happened to the rich oil fields within Irish waters?
What has happened to Irish mineral rights?
What has happened to Irish Forestry?
What has happened to the secret slush funds concealed from public scrutiny?
Why are criminal bankers and lawyers not behind bars?
Why are Irish politicians immune from criminal prosecution?
Why are the secret deals with foreign companies carried out by Bertie Ahearn not investigated?
Why are the people of Ireland denied the right to know what their government is doing in their name?
Wow ! He isn’t a popular guy is he ?
It’s time to oust Kenny – there needs to be a heave by a group of somewhat competent politicians.
The country is being run by a small clique of Kenny and 3-4 ministers.
He’s way out of his depth and has lost control.
will the F F people who Know for 30years stand UP,no because as they know noting about Bertie s 250,000,they know nothing .That is why we are in a hole.SF are hopeing they can get some of there boy s out of Jail ,so who win s,not you or I,the fool who belave in doing the right ,FF are laugh at us ,as some fools will Vote for them
Why is the name of a Hero who gave his life in the service of his country being dragged in to a political slagging match with the minister for justice. This man served his country above and beyond the call of duty and does not deserve to have his name used as a weapon in politics.
The Goverment as a whole ,should all go.
That reminds me, my bins go out today.
Check out the short videos on http://www.integrityireland.ie to see why Shatter, Callinan and Kenny simply have to go!
As far as this country is concerned, Alan Shatter is the best Minister for Justice this country has ever produced.
And another
I think he shouldn’t resign because he is the one who can stand up the country
Let Us Not Forget Why This Poll Was Started, Do Not Forget The Reason! This Behaviour Is And Always Will Be Intolerable.
Is he gone yet???
I see Mr Shatter has a lot of support from the people to whom he has given Irish Citizenship. That which is given can just as easily be removed.
Once Britain leaves the corrupt EU, Ireland is sure to follow. Now, that is a real game-changer!
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