Shatter must address whistleblower remarks, says Noonan

Pressure piled on Justice Minister Alan Shatter to withdraw remarks denigrating a garda whistleblower as a senior Cabinet colleague told him to deal with the issue.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan became the most senior member of Fine Gael to intervene in the controversy after rising demands for Mr Shatter to apologise to Sgt Maurice McCabe.

Mr Noonan made it clear he expected action from Mr Shatter on calls to withdraw incorrect Dáil remarks that the whistleblower refused to co-operate with a probe of penalty point let-offs.