LEYDEN SHOULD APOLOGISE FOR COMMENTS ON SHATTER - HUMPHREYS

STATEMENT BY CLLR RICHARD HUMPHREYS

Labour Party Councillor for Stillorgan

Friday, 23 September 2011

LEYDEN SHOULD APOLOGISE FOR COMMENTS ON SHATTER - HUMPHREYS  

Cllr Richard Humphreys, the Labour Party Councillor for the Stillorgan Ward, has called on Senator Terry Leyden to apologise for his comments on Minister Alan Shatter in the Seanad.

“As a Labour Party councillor in Minister Shatter’s constituency of Dublin South, I am saddened at this personalised criticism of a hard-working Minister” Humphreys said.

“While Senator Leyden is known for his pugnacious irreverence, on this occasion his remarks have crossed the line towards bigotry.  There is no basis whatsoever for his assertion that Minister Shatter has “undue influence” on Government policy on the Palestinian issue.  If Minister Shatter has expressed any view on this issue, it would of course be legitimate democratic influence as an elected Deputy in the Dublin South constituency and as a Minister democratically appointed following approval by Dáil Éireann.”   

“One thing that Senator Leyden is not is stupid, and he is intelligent enough to appreciate on reflection that to single out Minister Shatter and to accuse him of “undue influence” on the Palestinian question is to run the risk of unintentionally giving succour to those who would denigrate the role of Jewish people in public life or to de-legitimise the State of Israel.”  Humphreys said.

“The allegation of behind the scenes manipulation and undue influence is one that would not have been entirely out of place in 1930s Ireland or indeed 1930s Germany.  Nor would that sentiment be alien to the anti-Semitic terrorist group Hamas, whose brutal rule of Gaza Senator Leyden seems so eager to legitimise.”  Humphreys said.

“As an elected politician in Minister Shatter’s constituency I do not wish to stand idly by while such remarks are made and I call on Senator Leyden to reflect on the unfortunate consequences of these remarks and to apologise.”

“But perhaps Senator Leyden has also accidentally done something of a public service by reminding people of the urgent need to improve our political life by abolishing the Seanad, which I hope will come before the people for approval next year.” Humphreys said.

Ends