The Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said he is concerned that politicians and media coverage may prejudice an investigation into the quashing of tens of thousands of penalty points. 

Mr. Shatter has told the Dáil he has received an interim report and there may be nothing inappropriate about the quashing of points.

A Garda sergeant has alleged that 50,000 fixed charge notices have been quashed - including for some well known personalities.

Minister Shatter has said while he is taking the issue seriously, early signals are that in some cases there was nothing untoward with what went on

Yesterday the Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said he was confident the Garda inquiry into the termination of penalty points will be thorough.

He added that he did not believe an independent inquiry into the claims was needed.

The Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan confirmed a "vigorous and comprehensive investigation" was underway into the quashing claims.

He said any allegations of impropriety against members of the force was a matter of huge concern to him but he added any wrong doing would be highlighted in Assistant Commissioner John O’Mahoney's internal investigation.