The former Justice Minister Alan Shatter has lost an appeal against a finding that he breached data protection law.

Last May, the Data Protection Commissioner ruled that Mr Shatter unlawfully divulged personal information about TD Mick Wallace during a row about the quashing of penalty points on RTE'S Prime Time.

Speaking on Prime Time in 2013 Alan Shatter, the then Justice Minister, revealed that his political opponent Mick Wallace had been cautioned for using his mobile phone while driving.

The revelation was made during a debate on the quashing of penalty points.

Last May the Data Protection Commissioner ruled that Mr Shatter had breached the Data Protection Act by disclosing information regarding members of the gardaí using their discretion.

Alan Shatter appealed the ruling claiming he had not been afforded fair procedures and that public comments made by Billy Hawkes prior to his decision to the effect that personal data had been disclosed were evidence that he had prejudged the issue

His senior counsel Eileen Barrington argued that the finding had serious repercussions for Mr Shatter, personally, politically and professionally and had been a factor in his resignation last May.

Mr Shatter claimed the information he divulged about Deputy Wallace using his phone while driving had been obtained orally from the then garda commissioner and had never been written down.

Dismissing the appeal today Judge Jacqueline Linnane said it was her view that the Data Protection Commissioner had considered the matter fully, and that fair procedures had been followed.

She also found that Mr Shatter did not have proper legal standing to bring the appeal as his actions at the time had been carried out in his capacity as Justice Minister – a position he no longer holds.