Breaking news, alan shatter, minister for justice, garda commissioner

Breaking news, alan shatter, minister for justice, garda commissioner

Many individuals and families will be bemused by the amount of Government and Opposition time taken up by the ‘Shatter-gate’ affair. As people struggle to meet their bills, politicians from all walks of life continue to naval gaze at their own self-importance, in simple terms, who gives a flying pig about Alan Shatter, when there is bread and butter to be put on the nations tale.

Minster for Justice Alan Shatter has insisted there is no Garda report about an incident in which he unsuccessfully attempted to complete a breathalyser test when he was stopped at a checkpoint four years ago.

In a statement released this morning ahead of a Dáil debate on a Fianna Fáil motion of no confidence in Mr Shatter, the Minister said the Department of Justice Secretary General, Brian Purcell, had contacted the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan to ascertain if a report on the matter existed.

“The Commissioner has confirmed that he caused enquiries to be made by local Garda management as to whether or not a report of the incident was made at the time,” Mr Shatter said. “He is informed that no such report was generated by the Garda member involved and a further local search of the garda computer system has failed to locate any such report.”

The issue of Mr Shatter being stopped at the checkpoint was raised last week by Independent TD Mattie McGrath, who said gardaí would have had no choice but to make a report because of the nature of the incident.

Mr Shatter said he was asked to exhale into a breathalyser and did so but failed to fully complete the task due to being asthmatic. He said he explained this to the garda and also explained he was on his way home from the Dáil and had consumed no alcohol and was waved on.

On his way into Government Buildings this morning, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Mr Shatter had his full backing.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore also insisted Mr Shatter has given a full account of the incident and he criticised Fianna Fáil for bringing the motion of no confidence.

“He has issued two statements, one of which explained what happened when he was stopped and the second today saying that he has checked with the Garda Commissioner and there isn’t a Garda report on it,” Mr Gilmore told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland. “Frankly, I think Fianna Fáil are dragging the bottom of the barrel for an issue to have a Private Members Motion on,” he said.

“There are a lot more important issues in this country that need discussion in the Dáil than whether Alan Shatter was stopped at a checkpoint or not.”

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins said the Tánaiste was missing the point in saying that his party was “dragging the bottom of the barrel” in bringing a motion of no confidence in the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.

“From our point of view we have serious concerns and we have reached a tipping point with this minister,” he told RTÉ Morning Ireland. “I think it’s fair to say that his judgement has been severely called into question and that is something which we cannot have hanging over the minister for justice of the day.”

The controversy followed the release of information by Mr Shatter about Independent TD Mick Wallace during a television discussion about a report on the handling of penalty points by some gardaí.

The report dismissed allegations of widespread corruption in the Garda over the cancellation of thousands of penalty points, but led to a superintendent and two inspectors being disciplined after they were found to have terminated points in 661 cases.

Mr Shatter said Mr Wallace had been stopped and cautioned while driving in Dublin city last year. Mr Wallace at first said he had no recollection of the issue but later clarified that he was seen using his mobile phone at traffic lights in the north inner city when a garda vehicle pulled up alongside him. He said he acknowledged his mistake and the gardaí involved used their discretion and drove away after making some small talk.

Mr Wallace lodged a complaint with the Standards in Public Office Commission about the release of the information, which Mr Shatter said came up in a routine garda briefing on penalty points.

Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton said he thought the episode was a “distraction” when more pressing matters were causing concern for people.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary-Who McDonald made clear her party would support the Fianna Fáil motion.