The Tánaiste says he's satisfied that NO organ of the state was given official authorisatsion to carry out surveillance on the Garda Ombudsman.
Eamon Gilmore said the government fully supports the importance of the Ombudsman Commission - and stressed that any surveillance of its office was NOT carried out by a state agency or body.
However the opposition have condemned the Justice minister for appearing to play down the extent of the possible surveillance.
Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly reports:
