Credibility crisis - Shatter is now just a sideshow

Those who oppose the Government will support proceedings in the Dáil today and tomorrow, where a motion of no confidence in Justice Minister Alan Shatter will dominate business.

Naturally, the Coalition will reject the motion and, because of their unassailable Dáil majority, it will be defeated. The likelihood of any other outcome is as remote as the prospect of TD Mick Wallace being named as the next Garda Commissioner.

Voting will — even if not entirely without question — follow tribal lines and little or nothing, except the further debasement of our parliament, a few raised voices, and a few feeble one-liners read into the Dáil record, will result. It is also reasonable to expect to see that great, sobering piece of modern political analysis — “asking Bertie Ahern a question is like playing handball against a haystack” — made real again as Mr Shatter deigns, if that word is regal enough, to interact with this country’s house of representatives. That interaction may, if experience is any judge, fall short of accountability, however. Nevertheless, the motion is entirely justified and it is not difficult to see how, even if you step beyond the charge of cynicism levelled at Fianna Fáil, it can be avoided.