Shatter appeals ruling on data law breach

Former justice minister Alan Shatter has asked a judge to overturn a decision of the Data Protection Commissioner that he breached data protection laws when he said on RTÉs Prime Time that TD Mick Wallace had benefited from garda discretion with regard to penalty points.

Eileen Barrington SC told Judge Jacqueline Linnane in the Circuit Civil Court that Mr Shatter believed the commissioner’s decision was characterised by a number of serious errors.

Ms Barrington told the court that in May 2013 the then minister and Mr Wallace were involved in a televised discussion on the penalty points system and Mr Shatter had stated that Mr Wallace seemed to have a problem with gardaí exercising their discretion.