Focus on Minister Katherine Zappone over Tusla file

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone is under pressure to explain why she failed to inform Cabinet colleagues about false sex abuse allegations against whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe.

Terms for an inquiry into an alleged garda smear campaign are set to be extended after a fresh political crisis engulfed the Government over how Sgt McCabe was treated.

Meanwhile, RTÉ has reported a second case of a Garda whistleblower who claims they were referred to Tusla as part of a campaign of harassment involving gardaí. Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald was allegedly told of a child protection referral for the garda whistleblower last October, made by his garda superiors.