The Justice Minister says he has no regrets about revealing that Mick Wallace benefited from Garda discretion by avoiding penalty points.

Last week during a live TV interview Alan Shatter revealed that Mr. Wallace did not receive the points when he was stopped by gardai for using a mobile phone while driving in Dublin last year. At the time, the Wexford TD said he did not remember the incident but has since said it did happen.

Deputy Wallace is to make a complaint to the Standards in Public Office Commission over the comments, claiming it represents a serious abuse of the Minister's powers and a breach of the Code of Conduct for Office Holders.

In a statement on Friday, Deputy Wallace said "It would appear that the Minister was attempting to undermine my criticism of the manner in which he chose to investigate the issues raised in the Whistleblowers’ dossier regarding the cancellation of Fixed Charge Notices...I believe that the allegation made by the Minister represented an attempt to avoid a discussion of the grave issues of Garda malpractice, issues which I am determined to continue to pursue".

Alan Shatter says he received the information at a Garda briefing during which the incident involving the Independent TD was used as an example.

He is rejecting any suggestion that he is spying on his political opponents and the Minister says he felt that he had a duty to make the disclosure because the Wexford Deputy was hitting out at people who have availed of Garda discretion.