The Justice Minister has insisted that no State bodies were authorised to carry out surveillance on the Garda Ombudsman.

Minister Alan Shatter appeared before the Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions in relation to allegations of bugging at GSOC offices.

The Minister has said neither the Gardaí, the Revenue Commissioners or the Defence Forces carried out any bugging.

In heated exchanges with independent TD Clare Daly, Minister Shatter insisted the Defence Forces were not authorised to carry out any surveillance:

Yesterday it was announced a former High Court judge would lead a review into the matter.

But Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said earlier that inquiry does not go far enough and the Minister has questions to answer over his own conduct.

In the Dáil last night, Mr. Shatter revealed a new report from an Irish IT company that states there is no evidence of bugging at the GSOC offices. The Minister urged people not to rush to conclusions about how the claims have been addressed.

Chairman of the Public Service Oversight committee, Sinn Féin Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, told Newstalk Breakfast this morning that the events of the last 24 hours have prompted more questions for the Minister.