The Government has launched a three-month non-statutory inquiry to uncover the full scale of Ireland’s Olympic ticket touting scandal — despite concerns that any investigation will be hamstrung by ongoing Brazilian legal cases.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the Fennelly Commission report clears him of allegations that he sacked the former Garda commissioner, Martin Callinan.

The Government’s plans for an independent Garda authority comes just two months after Justice Minister Alan Shatter spelled out his opposition to such a body.

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin has expressed deep concern at the level of violence in the capital after the gunning down of men in front of children.