Coalition TDs have demanded to know if Alan Shatter has access to secret files on prominent politicians, journalists and public figures, as the controversy surrounding the justice minister continued to escalate.

Sensitive personal data of celebrities, media personalities and sports stars held on Garda computers have been accessed without good reason by individual gardaí, the Data Protection Commissioner has found.

There is a “solemn duty” on Government figures, including Justice Minister Alan Shatter, to protect personal data and not disclose it unless the person affected consents or there is a legal basis, the country’s top data protection chief has said.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter seems to only have three levels of public persona; smug; very smug; and smugtastic.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter must quit because he can no longer be trusted with sensitive information, opposition parties have warned.