‘Let’s get back to issues that affect people’s everyday lives’

Speaking in Seanad Eireann yesterday, Senator Ronan Mullen Independent Euro Candidate suggested that it’s now necessary for An Taoiseach to call time on the current cabinet composition.

After a lively debate about the controversy surrounding Minister Alan Shatter, Senator Mullen said:

“How can the Taoiseach tell the Dáil and the rest of us to have confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality when it is clear from his actions he has no confidence in him? When the going got tough he stepped in and instructed an official from the Department to visit the Garda Commissioner, essentially to sack him.  And the Taoiseach met the Attorney General to discuss the unprecedented revelation of Garda recording of telephone conversations. All of this happened over Minister Shatters’s head.”

He continued:

“Whatever Minister Shatter’s’ future role in the Government may be, it is clear from the Taoiseach’s actions that he has no confidence in him in his current role as Minister for Justice. It seems to me that the important public business of this country is being held up by a very unseemly and troubling affair. There is one solution, namely, that the Taoiseach bring forward the reshuffle he was undoubtedly thinking of having anyway and resolve this matter quickly.

The people I have met over the last few months consider this a complete distraction from the real business of Government, namely the increasing tax burden on working families, the high level of unresolved debt, continuing unemployment and cuts in public services.

“It’s time for the Government to get back to work,” Senator Mullen concluded.