The Justice Minister's position may not be safe just yet.

Alan Shatter yesterday apologised to the garda whistleblowers and withdrew statements that Maurice McCabe and John Wilson did not cooperate with internal inquiries into the penalty points scandal.

His apology appears to have secured the support of the Labour Party, with Minister Brendan Howlin saying he has the "full confidence of every member of government".

It is thought the Justice Minister will now survive the immediate consequences of the taping controversy at garda stations.

However, Irish Times' Political Correspondent Fiach Kelly told Newstalk's Breakfast Alan Shatter's position isn't safe long-term just yet:

Questions must still be asked of Attorney General Máire Whelan, who is said to have informed the Taoiseach of the phone taping saga as part of a quarterly review of justice issues she carries out to brief government.

However, there is disquiet that the issue had not been brought to the Taoiseach's attention prior to that.