Shatter in court to fight Data Protection Commissioner ruling on Wallace issue

Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter is claiming in court that the Data Protection Commissioner prejudged a complaint that he unlawfully divulged information about TD Mick Wallace on RTÉ’s Prime Time.

He is appealing against the decision which arose in relation to penalty points when he revealed in May 2013 that Deputy Wallace had been cautioned for using his mobile phone while driving.

The court has heard that the then Justice Minister Alan Shatter believes he acted in the public interest by revealing on Prime Time that TD Mick Wallace had been a beneficiary of garda discretion on penalty points

He feels he was defending the integrity of the force, however the disclosure resulted in a complaint by Deputy Wallace to the Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes.

Last May the commissioner found Shatter had broken data protection laws by revealing this personal information, a decision that is now being appealed.

Mr Shatter's lawyers claim there is evidence from an interview the Data Protection Commissioner gave to RTÉ last year that he prejudged the issue.

The court has also heard that Alan Shatter's side will fight claims from the Commissioner's lawyers that Shatter no longer has the legal standing to take the case because he is no longer the Justice Minister.

The hearing is set to last for a day.