A Senior Counsel is to be appointed to examine the claims of Garda misconduct given to the Taoiseach last week.
The decision was made at this morning's Cabinet meeting.
The claims are contained in a dossier of evidence compiled by Sgt Maurice McCabe, the penalty points whistleblower, and passed onto the Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin.
He, in turn, passed the dossier on to the Department of the Taoiseach last week.
The dossier contains claims of Gardaí failing to properly investigate serious crimes, including a murder.
Earlier a cabinet minister said he wouldn't "take sides" in the dispute between the Garda Commissioner and a Garda whistleblower.
Brendan Howlin says it's important that all sides are given a fair hearing in the dispute over claims made by a series of garda whistleblowers about internal issues in the force.
Meanwhile Sinn Féin's caling for a special Dáil debate on the issue.
Party leader Gerry Adams says the government must explain clearly to the public when it found out about the Garda allegations, and what it did in response:
