THE OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE on Justice is seeking legal advice on the penalty points controversy, but has not asked the Garda Ombudsman Commission to investigate, a spokesman has said.

Reports today claimed that the committee, which met in private yesterday, had referred a report on whistleblower allegations that gardai had inappropriately cancelled penalty points to the commission, but a spokesman for the committee said that no such step had been taken.

“No decisions or actions have been taken at this point,” said Ciaran Brennan, spokesman for the Joint Oireachtas Committee.

“The committee is currently getting legal advice into what options it can consider, but no decision has been made at the minute,” added Brennan.

A spokesperson for the Garda Ombudsman Commission confirmed that nothing had been forwarded, telling TheJournal.ie:

We haven’t received anything as yet, but if and when we do, then it will be considered. As of now, we don’t know what that will be, so we will have to play it by ear.

Garda Commisioner Martin Callinan confirmed last week that a file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to an alleged fraud, arising from the investigation into the cancelling of penalty points by members of An Garda Síochana.