The government is to cover the legal costs of Sean Guerin in the action being taken against him by Alan Shatter. It has emerged the government will indemnify Mr Guerin in the High Court case, and will cover any of his legal fees in defending the case.
Mr Guerin was hired by the government to report into its handling of allegations by Maurice McCabe of garda malpractice.
His report found major shortcomings with the response of the Department of Justice, and its then-minister Alan Shatter, who resigned as a result.
Last week, Mr Shatter launched a High Court bid to overturn some of the findings - saying Mr Guerin should have interviewed him, and that he was denied his rights to fair procedure.
Mr Shatter claims the report showed objective bias and an absence of fair procedures and also alleges that Mr Guerin showed "indecent haste" in compiling his report.
The government is to offer Mr Guerin the same legal cover as a civil servant - meaning it will pay his legal bills in his defence, against one of the former allies of Taoiseach Enda Kenny.