Supreme Court judge Nial Fennelly is to be asked to lead the Commission of Inquiry into illegal taping of phone calls at Garda stations.
Justice Fennelly He is up for mandatory retirement next month - but will now be asked to lead the Commission of Inquiry into the systematic taping of phone calls at Garda stations.
Draft terms of reference were considered by Cabinet this morning, with agreement that all matters of public concern in relation to the issue should be considered.
Final terms of reference will be approved shortly, once Justice Fennelly has been consulted.
The cabinet also ordered that all recordings should be retained for the moment, and a full inventory compiled.
However in a significant move, the government is setting up a new Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform to oversee the development for proposals on a police authority, and other reforms of the policing and justice system.
That committee not only includes the Minister for Justice, but also the Taoiseach and Tánaiste - suggesting Enda Kenny is being forced to take a more hands-on role in Alan Shatter's department.
