Shatter's pathetic excuse: Another low in political accountability

Letter in Saturday’s Irish Times.

This man’s experience gives the lie to Shatter’s pathetic excuse. He is also correct in claiming that from now on, because of Shatter’s behaviour, tens of thousands of asthma sufferers can, quite justifiably, refuse to take a breath test.

They will be justified in following this arrogant minister’s example because the State has accepted his excuse thereby establishing yet another low in political accountability.

Sir,

I was breathalysed a few weeks ago at a random Garda checkpoint on the Stillorgan Road in Dublin.

I have been an asthmatic for more than 30 years. I had no difficulty blowing into the bag for the required number of seconds. I passed the test.

It is, however, comforting to know that in future, I along with the tens of thousands of other asthma sufferers in the country, will be able to avoid being breathalysed by stating that, just like Minister for Justice Alan Shatter, we too suffer from asthma.

Why do we keep electing these people?

Yours, etc,

Ciaran O’Kelly
Dublin 4