The Justice Minister Alan Shatter could be fined over comments he made about another Dáil deputy on live television.

The Data Protection Commissioner is investigating whether Minister Shatter broke data protection laws, when he revealed on RTE's Prime Time that Gardaí had stopped and cautioned Mick Wallace on his mobile phone, while driving.

Billy Hawkes told the Sunday Independent Minister Shatter could face a fine of €3,000 on summary conviction or €100,000 on conviction on indictment.

The Data Protection Commissioner will publish his ruling within the next month.