Updated 13.10

Fianna Fáil's putting a motion of no-confidence in the Justice Minister next week.

The Dáil will spend three hours on Tuesday and Wednesday nights debating the issue.

Party leader Micheál Martin says the various controversies surrounding Minister Shatter in recent times means they now have to take the action.

And he says despite the fact the government will defeat the motion, it still has to be done:

Earlier, Deputy Martin launched a blistering attack on the Justice Minister in the Dáil, while putting forward new legislation to reform the Seanad.

He used his opening speech to accuse Minister Alan Shatter of running scared from scrutiny:

This afternoon, the body representing rank-and-file gardaí has insisted that no member of the garda rank was involved in recording telephone conversations.

The Garda Representative Association says the recent controversies have further undermined the morale of gardaí working on the frontline.

In a statement, GRA President John Parker said the group was prepared for the outcome of the Commission of Inquiry set up into the recording.

He said the group's understanding was that the systems were installed to ensure the clarity of what was said, and for accountability, but that it was not helpful to speculate any further.

Support for the Minister

Meanwhile, the social protection minister has said she has full confidence in Alan Shatter.

Joan Burton says she is happy the Dáil record has been corrected on whistleblowers', and that a policing authority will be set up.

But the minister failed to answer questions on whether the details of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan's letter to the minister were shared at Tuesday's cabinet meeting.

And she says she doesn't know how many times Martin Callinan was spoken to by civil servants in the run-up to his resignation:

The Junior Finance Minister says he "doesn't accept" accusations that the government stitched up the former Commissioner.

Brian Hayes says it's "complete nonsense" to suggest that Martin Callinan was forced out - even after reports that Department of Justice officials told him not to withdraw his "disgusting" remarks about the actions of garda whistleblowers.

He says opposition leaders are treating the issue and revelations about garda taping like a "Punch and Judy performance":

And last night, Environment Minister Phil Hogan told Ocean FM the Cabinet was as shocked as the public when the allegations came to light - insisting Ministers did not know about the taping prior to this week.

Legal implications

There are fears recordings from the garda phone tapes controversy could impact trials, even where evidence from them wasn't used in court.

A number of lawyers say they believe if information about the tapes wasn't disclosed in court it could cause dozens of cases to be reopened.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny says he ordered a Commission of Inquiry to be set up because of the potential impact on prosecutions and Tribunals.

And Barrister Darren Lehane, who specialises in administrative law and tribunals, told Newstalk's Breakfast the consequences could be far-reaching: