Ministers have been accused of using gardaí as their personal police.

The issue was raised in the Dáil this afternoon.

It follows the detention of a blogger while travelling through Dublin Airport last week.

The blogger was cautioned over a post written in April this year.

It was questioning the personal business dealings of the Social Protection Minister, Regina Doherty.

A spokesperson for the minister confirmed earlier this week that a garda complaint had been made, and could not comment further.

Ruth Coppinger of Solidarity says the role of the gardaí is sinister.

"In the blog she merely raised issues with the minister's dealings in a bankrupt company in 2009.

"Is it now Government policy to attack anybody who criticises anyone in the Government on social media in this very sinister way?".