Hysteria on crime only serves certain interests

Alan Shatter might turn out to be one of the better ministers in this government, but like many of his colleagues, he is prone to ministerial blather, writes Vincent Browne.

'We have a very low murder rate in his state, about one per 100,000 of the population.'

There is a casual arrogance about Alan Shatter which many find irritating, including some of his party colleagues. But he might turn out to be one of the better ministers in this government (the faint praise is unintended) and one of the better ministers for justice in quite some time (more unintended faint praise).

His promise of the reform of the courts would, if delivered, make a big difference to the administration of ...