Leaders support under-fire Shatter

Government leaders said they supported Alan Shatter as the justice minister faced questions about obtaining Garda details on a TD, a move which he denied was sinister.

Mr Shatter said yesterday he had obtained details from the Garda commissioner about Independent TD Mick Wallace being warned by gardaí about driving while using his mobile phone. However, opposition and coalition TDs last night said further questions remained including how the garda chief was informed of the incident, when the minister was briefed, and whether the divulgence of the details on television by the minister breached data protection regulations.

The incident occurred last May when the Wexford TD was driving in north Dublin and was warned by gardaí for using his phone. The TD was warned by gardaí but given no fine. Mr Wallace has previously criticised the quashing of penalty points by members of the force.