Former justice minister Alan Shatter has launched a scathing attack on Transport Minister Shane Ross, accusing him of “bombastic fakery” and “fantasy politics” over his plans to reopen Stepaside Garda Station.

The pending reopening of Stepaside Garda station will be strongly criticised by the Dáil’s spending watchdog, despite two Cabinet ministers demanding its return.

Transport Minister Shane Ross is facing fresh claims that he pulled a “political stroke” by ensuring Stepaside Garda Station was re-opened after a senior garda officer said the facility “would not have been my number one priority”.

A defiant Transport Minister Shane Ross has said the decision to reopen Stepaside Garda Station in his constituency was not “stroke politics”.

The acting Garda commissioner yesterday defended the reopening of Stepaside Garda Station, following accusations that it was a political stroke delivered by Transport, Tourism and Sport Minister Shane Ross.