The Taoiseach has apologised to Sergeant Maurice McCabe for failure of the State to investigate his allegations more quickly. Enda Kenny says the garda whistleblower has been completely vindicated by the findings of the Guerin report.

The Cabinet has decided to a appoint a panel of external experts to review the workings of the Department of Justice and its performance in the wake of the publication of the report.

The report was critical of how allegations made by whistleblower McCabe were handled by the gardai, the former Justice Minister Alan Shatter and the Department of Justice itself.

Taoiseach says he has 'no problem' apologising to Sergeant McCabe

Ministers are to ask the experts to make recommendations and report back to government.

At its weekly meeting today, Ministers also formally agreed to set up a Commission of Investigation into the matter. However its chairman and terms of reference are still to be confirmed.

And Enda Kenny says the allegations of garda malpractice by Maurice McCabe should have been investigated quicker.

Meanwhile the Secretary-General at the Department of Justice, Brian Purcell, will attend a hearing of the Oireachtas Justice Committee to discuss the Guerin report.

His position has been the subject of intense speculation since the Guerin report found the Department had failed to properly investigate allegations of garda misconduct.