Only an apology and an inquiry will end this long saga

After two full turbulent weeks for the Government, it has managed to buy some breathing space before one last push to bury controversies focused on Justice Minister Alan Shatter.

The issue of bugging suspicions at the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has been neatly put away — for now — with the appointment of a former High Court judge to carry out a “review”.

And the Coalition is now buying some time before deciding how to proceed with a separate — but not entirely unrelated issue — of a Garda whistleblower and files he has produced alleging malpractice in the force.