There's fresh pressure on the Justice Minister to further explain his actions around the bugging of the Garda Ombudsman Commission.

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton says Alan Shatter has the opportunity to "resolve" the controversy when he appears before the Oireachtas Public Service Oversight and Petitions Committee next week.

She praised the Taoiseach and Tánaiste for expressing "the gravest of concerns, as is appropriate".

Joan Burton also said at this point people were "throwing around" calls for an independent inquiry, but that these had proved costly.

Minister Burton spoke to reporters at the Labour Party Conference in Co. Meath:

Last night the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commisison said it has delivered a letter to the Minister for Justice, seeking to address fully - and to clarify - issues raised by the Minister.

In a brief statement, GSOC said it received a detailed letter from Minister Shatter on Thursday night, and has responded.

With regard to an internal inquiry into a potential unauthorised release of information from the organisation, the Ombudsman Commission has engaged legal advice and it says it is working through terms of reference and scope.