Garda whistleblower row sets stage for tense Cabinet meeting

It has emerged that the Transport and Justice Ministers met in private yesterday to discuss the Garda whistleblower controversy.

Leo Varadkar sparked renewed tensions last week by calling on the Garda Commissioner to withdraw his description of whistleblower actions as "disgusting".

It is understood yesterday's meeting between Varadkar and Alan Shatter happened at the request of the Taoiseach, who also met Minister Varadkar himself.

The prospect of an apology to the two Garda penalty points whistleblowers will be discussed by ministers this morning.

The controversy has opened deep divisions between Fine Gael and Labour, and the scene has been set for a tense cabinet meeting this morning.

Yesterday Eamon Gilmore upped the ante by saying Alan Shatter should join the Garda commissioner in withdrawing his remarks about the whistleblowers Maurice McCabe and John Wilson.

Today's cabinet meeting is the first since the release of a report into the penalty points system by the Garda Inspectorate.