Alan Shatter - Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence

Victor

So, Alan Shatter is the new Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence. I'm wondering if combining the three is appropriate on a democratic basis.

There have long been concerns that Justice officials have favoured their traditional policing/courts/prison role over concepts like equality and law reform and willingly sacrificed the budgets of those two headings and protected those of the traditional roles.

Then there is the matters of Justice and Defence. While both are security related, it also puts a lot of eggs in one basket. I'm not suggesting we are anywhere near a coup or anything like that, but it potentially puts one group of officials in charge of the state's entire security apparatus, potentially with no means of balancing things.

P. Breathnach

Victor wrote: »

... but it potentially puts one group of officials in charge of the state's entire security apparatus, potentially with no means of balancing things.

Not necessarily. The fact that there is one minister in charge of those areas does not mean that it is necessary to merge the departments.

View

P. Breathnach wrote: »

Not necessarily. The fact that there is one minister in charge of those areas does not mean that it is necessary to merge the departments.

It means we move towards a Military Police and Alan takes out Inda in a bloodless coup.

(It's been at least a week since someone wanted to get of Inda as FG leader, so it must be time for a change)

CDfm

Personally, I am saddened that Alan Shatter is left anywhere near the family law portfolio.

He is largelly the architect of our current messy system and has a vested interest via his law practice.

One of our partners, Alan Shatter is author "Shatters Family Law", is a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a former Consultant on Family Law to the Law Society of Ireland. He is an overseas member of the English Solicitors Family Law Association (Resolution). He has been a member of Dail Eireann (the Irish Parliament) for over 25 years and has been substantially involved in parliamentary Debates relating to the enactment of all recent family law statutes, a number of which he originated.

http://www.gallaghershatter.ie/law_dublin/family_divorce_child.htm

GSF

CDfm wrote: »

Personally, I am saddened that Alan Shatter is left anywhere near the family law portfolio.

He is largelly the architect of our current messy system and has a vested interest via his law practice.

How can he be the "architect" when he has never held ministerial office before?

CDfm

GSF wrote: »

How can he be the "architect" when he has never held ministerial office before?

His practice claims that he was heavily involved

Debates relating to the enactment of all recent family law statutes, a number of which he originated.

He claims to have originated the laws.

I say the system is ****e and he should clear up the mess.

GSF

CDfm wrote: »

His practice claims that he was heavily involved



He claims to have originated the laws.

I say the system is ****e and he should clear up the mess.

He was involved in the debates. Doesnt mean he wrote the statutes or voted for them. How could he in opposition?

In fact from my memory of him in the 1990's he did a lot of pre-bono work for those who couldnt afford legal services.

walrusgumble

CDfm wrote: »

His practice claims that he was heavily involved



He claims to have originated the laws.

I say the system is ****e and he should clear up the mess.

heavens forbid we actually have a competent lawyer now running justice (I hate saying this, but McDowell was not the worse). He has the rare distinction of getting a number of crucial private membership bills passed in dáil éireann. The then 1989 act for legal separation is one. He was heavily involved with the divorce act.

How will his law firm get kuddos? Most claims the state will have to deal with will be dealt with by the Chief State Solicitors or one of the mega firms like arthur cox etc. Shatter will be well aware of problems in the court system.

I am not a fan of Fine Gael, I despise them. I really dislike Shatter particularly on how he tries to shut anyone up who disses Israel and is rather right wing, I hear he is not a nice guy, but I accept that he is talented, and i am happy that he is now in a position to put his money where his mouth is and deal with the problems of the department. Sure, sort out the laow n order to keep the traditional blueshirters happy too

walrusgumble

GSF wrote: »

He was involved in the debates. Doesnt mean he wrote the statutes or voted for them. How could he in opposition?

In fact from my memory of him in the 1990's he did a lot of pre-bono work for those who couldnt afford legal services.

He actually has written some legislation. Opposition parties have some priviledges and can put before the Dail some of their own work. I recall he has some important family law acts. and some social welfare. I am happy enough to see him there. I was thrilled that he won his seat back in 2007 (i really dislike FG)

Hannibal

walrusgumble wrote: »

I really dislike Shatter particularly on how he tries to shut anyone up who disses Israel and is rather right wing, I hear he is not a nice guy,

And thats the problem with Alan Shatter. I believe Deputy O'Snodaigh accused him of "propaganda, twisted logic and half truths" during an Oireachtas committee meeting during the war on Gaza in 2009. I think O'Snodaigh also compared him to a certain Mr Goebbels.

CDfm

walrusgumble wrote: »

He actually has written some legislation. Opposition parties have some priviledges and can put before the Dail some of their own work. I recall he has some important family law acts. and some social welfare. I am happy enough to see him there. I was thrilled that he won his seat back in 2007 (i really dislike FG)

If he is competant he should want to fix the problems ,and , promoting a system of social inequality is not how to do it.

ffs - they have a huge majority

it is not just guys at family law but also LGBT but there is a whole raft of family law practice administered by the state which is plain wrong.

So if according to Enda Kenny the state is going to be honest -let them show it.

CDfm

Dotsey wrote: »

And thats the problem with Alan Shatter. I believe Deputy O'Snodaigh accused him of "propaganda, twisted logic and half truths" during an Oireachtas committee meeting during the war on Gaza in 2009. I think O'Snodaigh also compared him to a certain Mr Goebbels.

Ireland has very little influnce abroad and it would be nice to see him fix whats in this country

walrusgumble

Dotsey wrote: »

And thats the problem with Alan Shatter. I believe Deputy O'Snodaigh accused him of "propaganda, twisted logic and half truths" during an Oireachtas committee meeting during the war on Gaza in 2009. I think O'Snodaigh also compared him to a certain Mr Goebbels.

Well, that would be a damn good reason why Shatter should never be allowed near Foreign Department. But he is where he is most capable and should be ok.

walrusgumble

CDfm wrote: »

If he is competant he should want to fix the problems ,and , promoting a system of social inequality is not how to do it.

ffs - they have a huge majority

it is not just guys at family law but also LGBT but there is a whole raft of family law practice administered by the state which is plain wrong.

So if according to Enda Kenny the state is going to be honest -let them show it.

I agree, and I actually believe that Shatter is the right person for it. I don't know what his views are on LGBT though. FG are not too liberal on them (not all of them are like that) but at least they are honest about it (does not make it alright) It will be interesting to see what happens. I hope he pays attention to what the Law Reform Commission have been banging on about for over a decade (a body that should be kept)

dlofnep

It's an absolute joke to have him as our Minister of Justice. He wouldn't know what the word means if it slapped him in the face. This is the same guy that sided with Israel during the Gaza war, which saw the slaughter of over 1000 civilians. Minister of Justice my hole.

CDfm

walrusgumble wrote: »

I agree, and I actually believe that Shatter is the right person for it. I don't know what his views are on LGBT though.

I am a heterosexual man myself and not the most PC person in the world but common sense tells you that men and women need to have regular lives around their personal aspirations.

It should not bother me what people do in private.

Marriage law is based on property law.

You do not have to adopt everything -say if the Dail say no to adoption you can give evrything and xclude that.

That is my opinion.

Bullseye1

I read he was the solicitor of choice for women in divorce cases. It would be refreshing if we actually saw some balance in family law and proper rights for unmarried fathers and divorced fathers visitation rights.

James Jones

walrusgumble wrote: »

I hope he pays attention to what the Law Reform Commission have been banging on about for over a decade (a body that should be kept)

You must hold a grudge against separated fathers if you support the Law Reform Commission proposals on Family Law as they recommend "that a general statutory requirement to consult should not be included in legislation concerning parental responsibility".
What the proposals intend is that automatic guardianship will be granted to unmarried fathers but, to do this, they will dilute the rights of married fathers (all in the cause of equality, don't you see). They will also allow these rights to be granted to aunts, uncles and the children's mothers new boyfriend so that the father will be outvoted in each and every contentious decision.
A body that should be kept? Yeah, right, if you believe in the concept that mother knows best!

metrovelvet

Doesnt Alan Shatter have his own private practise? Hasn't he been a TD while also running a private practise in family law? Is this not a conflict of interest?

Bullseye1

metrovelvet wrote: »

Doesnt Alan Shatter have his own private practise? Hasn't he been a TD while also running a private practise in family law? Is this not a conflict of interest?

I would imagine that would have to be put on hold while in government.