Former Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter to contest general election as independent
Alan Shatter has called for a 'political culture that is not ageist, embraces wisdom, values experience and unequivocally rejects racism and antisemitism'.
Former Fine Gael justice minister Alan Shatter is to run as an independent in the upcoming general election.
Mr Shatter will run in the Dublin-Rathdown constituency, which is due to increase to a four-seater.
In a leaflet distributed to locals in the constituency, Mr Shatter said he was running after being urged to by local residents in recent years.
Mr Shatter has recently spearheaded a campaign calling for the abolition of inheritance tax â leading to speculation he was considering a return to politics.
âIn the DĂĄil, we need independent politicians you can rely upon to tell you the truth, even when it is difficult,â Mr Shatter says in the leaflet.
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He calls for a âpolitical culture that is not ageist, embraces wisdom, values experience and unequivocally rejects racism and antisemitismâ.
The former justice minister took aim at the Government, saying it had âscandalously presided over the degradation of our Defence Forces and utterly failed to recruit the number of new gardaĂâ needed to ensure Dublin is safe.
He also hit out at the cost of the National Childrenâs Hospital, saying there was a lack of âeffective oversight and financial controlsâ.
âIn todayâs politics, truth and competence have become a scarce commodity,â Mr Shatter said.
He criticised the opposition parties for having âlittle to offer other than attention-seeking toxic and misleading negative rhetoricâ, as well as undeliverable promises.
Mr Shatter served as justice minister between 2011 and 2014, stepping down from the position after receiving a report into allegations made by Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe.
The report itself was critical of the Department of Justice. Mr Shatter faced and survived a no-confidence motion in 2014, following the resignation of former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan.
The constituency, seen to be a Fine Gael heartland, currently hosts Green Minister Catherine Martin, and Fine Gaelâs Neale Richmond and Josepha Madigan â who is not contesting the next election.
One Fine Gael source denied assertions Mr Shatter could impact on the party's chances in the constituency, saying he had been out of politics for a long time.
Mr Shatter confirmed to the Irish Examiner that he would be contesting the next election.
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