The Minister for Justice will appear before an Oireachtas committee later to discuss his handling of the allegations of surveillance at the Garda Ombudsman Commission.

Alan Shatter's appearance comes after he told the Dáil last night that there was "no evidence at all" of bugging at GSOC's offices.

That claim came only hours after the government announced an independent inquiry into the claims of surveillance at the Commission's offices in central Dublin.

In the Dáil last night the minister urged people not to rush to conclusions about the way the allegations have been addressed.

In the Dáil last night Alan Shatter said he'd received a report from RITS, a security firm based in Citywest.

They considered the evidence found by GSOC's security partners Verrimus, and the evidence available to the Minister, and they believe there is no evidence - of any sort - that GSOC was under surveillance.

The claim is likely to be questioned when Minister Shatter comes before the Oireachtas committee on Public Service Oversight this afternoon to discuss his handling of the investigations.

Last night was the first time the Minister mentioned the RITS report - and questions will be asked about when, and why, the minister asked another outside firm for its opinion.

He's also likely to face accusations that he may already have undermined the independent inquiry he announced just five hours earlier.