Business-class flights for the Taoiseach and members of his staff for the annual St Patrick’s Day visit this year cost the taxpayer over €32,000.

Alan Shatter, the former justice minister, wrote to the Taoiseach and ceann comhairle urging that aspects of the Guerin report concerning Mr Shatter’s handling of allegations by Garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe not be investigated by an intended commission of investigation pending the outcome of legal proceedings.