The controversial year that saw Enda constantly defend Shatter
MAY WALLACE 2013 PHONE CONTROVERSY Alan Shatter announced live on air that he had learned that Independent TD Mick Wallace had been cautioned for using his mobile phone while driving. The revelation prompted a storm over the use of garda information to score political points.
Enda Kenny: ‘I want to make it clear that the Minister for Justice is not in a position of collecting files on any individual or any member of the House or anybody else.’
MAY 29, 2013 SHATTER SURVIVES MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE IN DÁIL
EK: ‘The minister gave a detailed explanation... he apologised and said sorry and vowed he’d never do it again.’
FEBRUARY 12, 2014 TAPE EMERGES OF CONFIDENTIAL RECIPIENT’S WARNING TO MAURICE MCCABE ‘NOT TO MESS WITH SHATTER’ A transcript of Sergeant Maurice McCabe’s contact with the confidential recipient Oliver Connolly is read into the Dáil in which it’s alleged Shatter ‘will go after you’ if he feels someone is trying to ‘screw him’. A week later, the Taoiseach focuses his criticism on Connolly rather than Shatter.
EK: ‘The confidential recipient has to be seen to be a person who can be trusted... I haven’t spoken to the confidential recipient, I’ve asked that the Department of Justice furnish me with a report.’
FEBRUARY 19, 2014 ALAN SHATTER SACKS CONFIDENTIAL RECIPIENT As the controversy over the confidential recipient’s comments about Shatter rumbles on, the Taoiseach tells the Dáil that Shatter sacked him.
EK: ‘Following publication of the full element of what is alleged to have happened... the Minister for Justice, who’s very concerned about this, he has this morning relieved Mr Connolly of his duties.’
FEBRUARY 26, 2014
MISLEADING THE DÁIL The Taoiseach denies that Shatter erred by telling the Dáil that Sgt Maurice McCabe had not co-operated with an internal garda inquiry into penalty points.
EK: ‘Minister Shatter is not one to mislead this house, no more than any other minister,’ he told Dáil members.
MARCH PRAISE FOR 14, 2014 THE WHISTLEBLOWERS... STILL DEFENDING SHATTER BUT Speaking St Patrick’s during Day trip the traditional to the US, the Taoiseach praises the whistleblowers’ courage for bringing to light garda malpractice but denies claims his Shatter stymied these efforts.
EK: ‘He had disagreements with the whistleblowers on a number of issues. He has addressed this at some length in the committee, in the Dáil and will do so again when the Dáil resumes after St Patrick’s recess.’
MARCH 25, 2014 GARDA COMMISSIONER
MARTIN CALLINAN QUITS The Garda Commissioner, who was criticised for describing the whistleblowers’ actions as ‘disgusting’, quits after the taping of conversations in garda stations emerges.
EK: ‘The Minister for Justice on behalf of the Government will continue to reform the justice system, we will work now to introduce an independent, statutory authority for An Garda Síochána that will bring our system into the modern era.’