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Update 1.50pm
FORMER JUSTICE MINISTER Alan Shatter has said he plans to run for re-election as a Fine Gael TD next year.
In an interview with Pat Kenny on Newstalk this morning, the Dublin South TD said that it is his “intention to run” for the party at the next election.
“Much of that depends on the support I will get from Fine Gael members in my constituency, all of whom have given me tremendous support over the years,” he added.
Shatter’s constituency has been redrawn and renamed Dublin Rathdown as well as being reduced from five to three seats, presenting a challenge for Fine Gael to retain two of the three seats it won at the last election.
Fine Gael sources locally expressed doubts as to whether Shatter would be on the party’s ticket given the controversy that has surrounded him in recent years. One claimed the ex-minister’s name “was toxic on the doors” in the local and European elections.
The five sitting TDs include Shatter, his Fine Gael colleague Olivia Mitchell, ex-Fine Gael TD Peter Mathews, Labour’s Alex White and independent Shane Ross.
While Ross and Mitchell, if she runs, are seen as certainties to be re-elected, the third seat is set to be a battle between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, Labour, the Greens and a potential Shane Ross independent.
Since resigning as justice minister last May, Shatter has maintained a public profile.
His High Court action against some findings of the Guerin report, which led to his resignation, has created headlines as has a separate court ruling against him.
He also recently clashed with the Department of the Taoiseach over the terms of reference for the O’Higgins Commission which is investigating claims of garda malpractice on foot of the Guerin report.
That controversy was not raised during the course of a lengthy interview on Newstalk this morning.
However Shatter did briefly address it during a later interview on RTÉ’s News at One, before saying he was prevented from commenting further as matters are before the courts.
In what is seen as an indication of his desire to seek a return to the Dáil after the next election, Shatter gave a wide-ranging speech at a Fine Gael constituency meeting last night.
He called for a new divorce referendum and a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment in last night’s speech. He said the issue of allowing terminations in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities, rape and incest must be dealt with.
He told Newstalk that while he accepted there would be no referendum in this Dáil term he would like to see Fine Gael commit to holding a vote on the 8th Amendment in its next manifesto.
“We need to ensure that no women in this State, having celebrated the fact she is pregnant, is informed that her child in the womb has no prospect of a life [and] that she’s not placed in an enormously cruel position where she must bring that pregnancy to full term,” he said.
Explaining his decision to vote against Clare Daly’s private members bill last night, Shatter said that it was too simplistic to say the matter could be resolved without constitutional change.
He argued the effect of Daly’s bill would be that the first woman to avail of an abortion under the legislation would end up before the courts as a result the need for the law’s constitutionally to be tested.
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R.I.P.
When Bowies creative output started to suffer in the 80′s, Prince came in and filled that void magnificently. I always viewed Prince in similar terms to Bowie in the way they challenged the mainstream constantly with their music and image. One crumb of comfort can be taken from his premature demise and that is the thousands of unreleased material he wrote over the years and which fans can look foward to hearing in the future.
On probably his worst album ‘Never Let Me Down’, Bowie sang the line : “The Little Red Corvette has passed me by” …
‘Least greatest’ album I think is more appropriate :)
What is the obsession with celebrities when they pass away?We should be mourning scientists,Doctors,professors and not musicians.A note in a newspaper is worthy,but countless stories one after the other is not on.We are taught to worship these people now and obsess.Sad day man passess away,hey over it.it Sums up society today,willfully ignorant and brainwashed by tv and radio.
You didnt have to pay attention to the article’s on him you know, you have a choice here Lee.
Says Lee Oswald
Yes but you know I have to give my 2 cents here…if I don’t highlight the pure ignorance and lack of common sense who else will?
What’s up Elma?
Musicians of this magnitutde are mourned simply because music means so very much to people; we grow with it, it grows with us, it relieves our stress, it gives us emotional release and it has very positive influences on our energy, body and brain. Prince was a musical genius, many people are upset, obviously not you Lee but thats okay. Maybe you’ve never heard music before
The reason for this is that more people would find Purple Rain to be more emotional and uplifting than Panck’s Constant.
Says the lad called after a dead Assassin????
I think if you did a wee bit of research you would realise I was not an assassin.I had a poor shot ,I could not off pulled of the assassination due to this fact.But you believe the Warren commission,which in itself was flawed from the day it was set up.
Back and to the left, back and to the left.
I sense a slight bit of sarcasm there Elma…The fact is shots could not be done in the time scale suggested.
I’m actually with you on this one tbh.
Thank you Elma,I’m not saying I was not involved.But I certainly did not act alone.I never got the call…
Is this worthy of a separate news story?
Maybe not, but the people who own the website think so, and it’s a free world.
Using your thumbs as a guide, it would appear about 80% thinkn yes it is.
“One day of seven we’ll die”
Gotta get those clicks
Goodnight sweet Prince
RTE government and cronie buddies would not represent the independent freedom loving Prince. They might like his music but they certainly wouldn’t be down with his stances on position on certain things. Might I suggest that PrimeTime do a piece on Chemtrails a subject which Prince was vocal about ???
Maybe they could have played ” something in the water does not compute”…
I agree Mr mango…but as you can see from all the red thumbs you are gettingn most people like to be spoon Fed from the likes of rte news.They hold comfort in their Irish independent,rte news and mor ing Ireland lol.Over educated but lack independent thought and the will to question authority.
Mass media educated sheeple, fleeced of free thought, and totally oblivious to the wool being pulled down over their eyes.
Good work RTE. good work
Thats cool,Prime Time taking a leaf outta Newsnight’s book with a lighter credits and a nice music tribute. Too many rte shows are too stiff and serious
Prince, like most of us like minded, would spit on Rte and it’s lie through omission policies. Prime time is a gate keeper like the war on drugs. They proclaim to be tackling the problem when they really are helping guide the outrage which is the brainwashed masses goto first emotion in reaction to the corruption of their overlords. But even Prince’s soul can’t replace the ones Rte & it’s minions already sold to the devil.!
Surprised anyone in RTE has enough soul to appreciate Prince. Disturbing to realise I have something in common with the government droids in Donnybrook
I wonder did David McCullogh manage to stay awake to hear the tune?
They should have faded the music in rather than just blasting it straight out. It’s a nice sentiment all the same.
Pity RTE is shite for the vast majority of the time.
Last weekthe bodies of two more young males were fished out of Galway Bay and Leo the Loo Head has decided he can afford to tske €14m from mental health.There are plenty more tragedies closer to home Prime Time could theme song, maybe “Suicide is Painless”.but of course it’s not, neither is is victimless.
Prince was a fan of Dick Gregory. He had strong opinions about society and politics and would not have been a fan of state owned and government controlled propaganda tv.
And I’m sure he would appreciate you hijacking the fact they played his music to commemorate his death as an excuse to have a rant. Not.
have your say