Updated 11pm



ALAN SHATTER will accept around €50,000 worth of severance payments – and donate it to the Jack and Jill Foundation.

These payments were available to ministers if they resign, but have been abolished under new legislation recently signed into law.

However, the former Minister for Justice resigned just before this was enacted – meaning he was able to claim these payments, previously calculated to the value of €70,282 spread across two years.

However, his amount will be less after taxes after taken into account, Shatter said, adding that if he kept it, it would be worth around €30,000.

He made the announcement at Leinster House this afternoon, and also dismissed rumours that he would be resigning.

Shatter said he was “somewhat surprised” he had a severance payment.

“I reflected on it and wondered what was an appropriate way to deal with it.”

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“They do extraordinary work to provide supports for families with children born with serious neurological conditions, and other major physical difficulties, and children with very short lifespans.”

I thought there’s a great deal more Jack and Jill could do with it than I could

Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation CEO Jonathan Irwin said he was “stunned”.

“It’s probably the largest philanthropic gift we’ve had this year for our children. It’s the equivalent of 3,125 hours of nursing.”

He added that he was “enormously grateful”, and described it as a suitable gesture given Shatter’s efforts to bring in a charity regulation board.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste both told reporters this morning that they expected Shatter to do the “right” and “honourable” thing.

Alan Shatter resigned as Minister for Justice, Equality, and Defence on 7 May prior to the publication of the damning Guerin report into garda misconduct.

Additional reporting by Hugh O’Connell. More to follow..

- First published 2.33pm