Labour press for Shatter to correct remarks

Tensions between the Coalition parties have deepened ahead of today’s Cabinet showdown after Labour put it up to Justice Minister Alan Shatter to correct his controversial comments that two garda whistleblowers did not co-operate with an inquiry into penalty points.

In what was seen as a planned attempt to increase the pressure on Fine Gael, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said it would be “helpful if the remarks were withdrawn”.

Mr Shatter erroneously told the Dáil last October that the whistleblowers — Sgt Maurice McCabe and retired garda John Wilson — “did not co-operate with the Garda investigation that took place”.

Asked if this should be withdrawn, Mr Gilmore said: “There are always phrases that are used and comments that are made and I think it is always best if they are cleared up as quickly as possible, but I think that is a matter for the minister for justice.”

Asked specifically whether it was incumbent on Mr Shatter to withdraw his remarks, he said he should.

“I’ve said that I think it would be helpful if the remarks were withdrawn. I stand by that. It’s a matter both for the Garda commissioner and Minister Shatter.”

A possible withdrawal of the comments by Mr Shatter is expected to be discussed between Mr Gilmore and Taoiseach Enda Kenny ahead of the Cabinet meeting. The Tánaiste’s remarks put the Taoiseach in the awkward position of having to either force his minister into a climbdown or ignore calls from his Coalition partner.

There was still no indication last night of whether Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan intends to make a public statement ahead of today’s Cabinet meeting. The Irish Examiner reported yesterday that he planned to withdraw his comments that the whistleblowers’ behaviour was “disgusting” following pressure from ministers. He was understood to have felt he was backed into a corner on the issue after Transport Minister Leo Varadkar and four Labour ministers urged a withdrawal of the remarks. Mr Callinan made the “disgusting” comments before the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee in January.

A Labour source last night said there was “nobody holding a gun to his head” and they would not be demanding a resignation if his comments were not withdrawn.

“What has happened here is that they both [Callinan and Shatter] used messy language and when they were proven way off the mark they stood their ground for no other reason other than machismo,” a Labour source said. “There is a sense of frustration and we just wanted to express our view, and we have made it known. We are not going to war on this but we do want it cleared up.”

Labour’s Pat Rabbitte, the communications minister, said: “I think the commissioner will recognise that the public mind is settled on this issue and I don’t think the garda commissioner would want to ignore that.”

Sinn Féin’s justice spokesman Pádraig MacLochlainn said if the comments are not withdrawn, then Mr Callinan must resign.