Mick Wallace on how Alan Shatter handles controversy

Alan Shatter’s handling of controversies, failing to cleanly address each issue, has led to their escalation into full-blown political crises, writes Mick Wallace.

FACING a no-confidence motion last week, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter told the House he found it “extraordinary” that the focus of the criticism against him during this latest Garda crisis is on the timing of the receipt of a letter from the ex–commissioner, Martin Callinan, and on when he was informed of its contents, and to when he first had actual sight of the letter.

I’d like to clear this up for him: the reason for this focus is that if we find it difficult to swallow this part of this very curious tale, then the truth of rest of the story, and the roles played by the various protagonists are clearly also in doubt.