Alan Shatter

Infobox Minister
name = Alan Shatter
honorific-suffix =

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width = 150px
birth_date = Birth date and age|1951|2|14|df=yes
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
party = Fine Gael
residence =
office1 = Teachta Dála for Dublin South
term_start1 = 17 February 1981
term_end1 = 2002
term_start2 = 24 May 2007
term_end2 = present
salary =
spouse =
religion = Judaism
children =
website = http://www.alanshatter.com
footnotes =
nationality = Irish

Alan Joseph Shatter (born 14 February 1951) is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is a TD, representing the Dublin South constituency. He was first elected as a TD at the 1981 general election, he lost his seat at the 2002 general election, and was re-elected at the 2007 general election. Shatter is also a former member of Dublin County Council. Shatter was born in Dublin to a Jewish family. He was educated at The High School, Dublin and Trinity College, Dublin.

Having a legal background, Shatter has proposed much legislation during his time as a TD. While in opposition, he published more Private Members Bills than any other TD had done previously. His bills were successful in making change in areas such as health, sport and justice. Very often, Shatter tends to claim that the government amended bills that he brought forward and adopted them as their own, though has yet to actually bring forward an example.Fact|date=July 2008

During the 1980s Shatter successfully lobbied for the establishment of an Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs. He was a member of the Committee from its foundation in 1992, apart from a brief period in 1993 to 1994, and its Chairman from December 1996 to June 1997.

During a period in 1993 to 1994 he was removed by party leader John Bruton as a disciplinary measure for breaking the party whip. This was occasioned by his voting in the Dáil in favour of a Bill to ban live hare coursing. Shatter is a former President of the Irish Council against Blood Sports.

During his time in the Dáil, he has been a Fine Gael Spokesperson on Law Reform (1982, 1987–1988), a former Front Bench Spokesperson on the Environment (1989–1991); for Labour (1991); for Justice (1992–1993); for Equality and Law Reform (1993–1994): for Health and Children (1997–2000); Justice, Law Reform and Defence (2000–2002). Despite his experience and success with legislation, he was never appointed as a member of a Fine Gael led cabinet.

During his time out of politics after losing his seat at the 2002 general election he has practised as a solicitor and is a partner of the firm Gallagher Shatter. Among his professional affiliations, he is a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is currently chairman of the ATIC, an organisation campaigning for the reform of inheritance tax laws in Ireland.

He is known as an outspoken defender of Israeli policies in the Gaza Strip.

Publications

* "Family Law in the Republic of Ireland" (1980) ISBN 0-905473-43-4
* "Laura: A Novel You Will Never Forget" (1989) ISBN 1-85371-042-3
* "Ireland and the Palestine Question 1948-2004" (2005) ISBN 0-7165-2814-2 (foreword by Alan Shatter)

External links

* [http://www.gallaghershatter.ie/ Legal Practice]
* [http://www.finegael.ie/fine-gael-elect.cfm?id=40&aid=190&level=page&TD_Key=852 Fine Gael Biography]
* [http://www.ireland.com/focus/election_2002/biogs/shatter_alan.htm Irish Times Biography]

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