Tánaiste: No question of Minister 'keeping tabs on political opponents'

The Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has warned the Justice Minister Alan Shatter that there is no justification for privacy issues to be made public.

Mr Gilmore said he accepts the Justice Minister's statement and apology to the Dáil last night about Wexford TD Mick Wallace escaping penalty points because of Garda discretion.

However, the Tánaiste said issues in the possession of Gardaí about individuals should not come into the public domain.

He also insisted there was no justification for building up files on people, saying: "There is no question whatever of Minister Shatter or the Garda Siochána keeping tabs on the members of this house, or Minister Shatter or anybody in the government keeping tabs on political opponents."