It has been confirmed that the taping controversy has now spread to the Prison Service. The Taoiseach has told the Dáil that the calls of 84 prisoners were "inadvertently recorded".
The Prison Service was aware of the problem on Wednesday of last week but it was only communicated to Justice Minister Alan Shatter in the middle of the Cabinet meeting today.
Enda Kenny has now demanded a report on the issue from the Prison Service.
The Taoiseach has also confirmed that the Garda Commissioner was required by law to inform both the Justice Minister and the Secretary-General of the problem of the garda tape recordings.
Mr. Kenny says the issue was not raised by the Secretary-General who had received the letter at the crisis meeting to discuss the problem eight days ago.
Earlier it was announced the government is establishing a new Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform immediately to be chaired by the Taoiseach.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Justice Minister Alan Shatter will make up the membership, along with Enda Kenny.
The coalition is also appointing the Supreme Court Judge Nial Fennelly to lead the Commission of Inquiry into illegal taping of phone calls at garda stations.
Supreme Court Judge Nial Fennelly will chair garda taping inquiry
Preliminary arrangements for the Commission were signed off at the Cabinet meeting this morning. However it is not yet clear whether the terms of reference have been finalised.
The government had been awaiting a report from the acting Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan before finalising the terms.
The Social Protection Minister says the terms of reference are at an advanced stage and will soon be finalised with Justice Fennelly.
Joan Burton also says the Justice Minister Alan Shatter has the full backing of the Labour Party ahead of a no-confidence motion in the Dail.
Meanwhile another Cabinet Minister says the Attorney-General has no questions to answer about her handling of the Garda Tapes affair.
Brendan Howlin says Máire Whelan informed the Taoiseach about the problem nine days ago, as soon as it was practical to do so.
Fianna Fáil is this afternoon proposing a change to the Seanad agenda to have the Attorney-General called in to discuss her handling of the affair.
But Minister Howlin says the timeline of how Ms. Whelan dealt with the matter is clear.
