Postal attack on Shatter ‘not relevant’ to debate

Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s revelations that Justice Minister Alan Shatter had been the victim of an anti-Semitic postal attack were “not relevant” to the no confidence debate into his conduct, Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman Niall Collins told the Dáil.

Mr Collins said he hoped those responsible for the incident were caught and prosecuted, but said all TDs receive hate email.

Mr Kenny had described the sending of anti-Semitic material and a suspect white powder to Mr Shatter’s home as a “new low”.

Mr Kenny announced the incident as he faced Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin in Leaders’ Questions over Mr Shatter’s handling of recent controversies.

Mr Martin did not refer to the anti-Semitic incident during the lunchtime exchanges. However, he did condemn the incident during the evening debate into Mr Shatter’s fitness for office after several Government TDs had hit out at the opposition parties’ silence on the matter.

Mr Kenny said that Jewish TDs had represented a number of parties in the Dáil in the past and this kind of behaviour could not be tolerated.

The army bomb disposal unit, which also deals with chemical threats, was called to Mr Shatter’s home to take charge of the situation yesterday.

The white substance was found to be harmless.

The situation mirrors a spate of security scares in Washington, DC, and London, where white substances have been posted to politicians.