Fianna Fáil Senator Paschal Mooney praised former minister for justice Alan Shatter for his integrity. He said it gave him no great pleasure to comment, adversely or otherwise, on behalf of his party about Mr Shatter. He had known him for a long time, having served under him when he was chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and travelled abroad with him.

“I have always found him to be a man of outstanding integrity. He has a wonderful brain, and he is a great loss to the body politic of this country.’’

Mr Mooney said Mr Shatter’s resignation had come long after his credibility as minister had evaporated. “We in Fianna Fáil have continuously questioned his approach to the administration of justice. Many of the concerns the party raised are still under investigation.’’

Reforming zeal
Paul Coghlan (FG) referred to Mr Shatter's "reforming zeal, his commitment to equality, and his immense law reform record''.

Jillian van Turnhout (Ind) said that while she would not comment on the events surrounding Mr Shatter’s resignation, she extended personal thanks to him. “When he was opposition spokesman on children, and I was chief executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, he always showed his belief in children’s rights, and he certainly took that into his role as minister for justice.’’

Seán D Barrett (Ind) said Mr Shatter had been sympathetic on issues the Seanad raised with him, such as the rights of tenants in buy-to-lets and the insolvency issue. “I recall one debate that went on late into the night, and he was most courteous in facilitating the points made by me and by the Sinn Féin Senators at a very late stage in the evening.’’