Taoiseach announces resignation of Minister Alan Shatter

Taoiseach Enda Kenny today announced to Dáil Éireann that Justice & Defence Minister Alan Shatter has tendered his resignation.

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Watch the Taoiseach’s full statement:

The Taoiseach said: I wish to announce for the information of the House that I am advising the President to accept the resignation of Deputy Alan Shatter as a member of the Government. I have accepted the Minister’s resignation with regret.

I would like to thank him for his service to the Government and to the country. He has been rightly recognised as an exceptionally hard working, radical and reforming Minister. He has left a positive legacy for all the people of this country in the wide range of areas for which he has had Ministerial responsibility.

His work on family law, on the issue of children, on those who died in the care of the State, institutional abuse, the Magdalene women, penal reform, will undoubtedly stand the test of time. The Minister’s decision to resign follows the report Mr Sean Guerin, SC, in review of action taken by An Garda Síochana pertaining to certain allegations made by Sgt Maurice McCabe. I received Mr Guerin’s report last evening, the Minister and I have considered its contents during today.

Mr Guerin has raised some legal issues that need to be addressed in advance of the publication of the report. These are currently being considered by the Attorney General, however I cannot advise the House that the report is critical of the inadequacy of the actions taken by a number of agencies, notably an Garda Síochana but also including the Department of Justice and Equality and the Minister for Justice. IN responding to the allegations made by Sgt McCabe. In that context, the Minister has accepted responsibility and taken the course of tendering his resignation.

It is my intention that the Guerin report will be published on Friday morning. The reason for the delay is the letter accompanying the report from the Senior Counsel recommended certain matters be attended to in terms of privacy, sub judice and so on a Ceann Comhairle. The Government will consider its response next week and there will be an opportunity for it to be debated in the House. I intend to make an announcement as to the replacement of Deputy Shatter as a member of the Government later this evening or tomorrow morning.