The Garda Ombudsman Commission has said it is considering allegations that corrupt gardaí turn a blind eye to drug abuse and have protected public figures with drug habits, such as Gerry Ryan.
The Garda Commissioner has ordered an investigation and a senior detective is to seek to interview Sunday Independent journalist Jim Cusack and editor Aengus Fanning.
The newspaper published the allegations over the weekend.
It claimed that there was a drug dealer to the stars protected by corrupt gardaí.
The newspaper said that gardaí who tried to arrest the dealer were warned off and that retired gardaí who mingled with celebrities using drugs maintained lifestyles beyond their official salaries.
Gardaí say the allegations are based on anonymous sources with no apparent grounding in fact.
The Ombudsman said the journalist and editor can bring evidence to its office and it could also carry out a public interest investigation.
RTÉ has rejected any suggestion it tolerated drug abuse and said its security had discovered nothing unusual as regards drugs in RTÉ.
It said that whatever level of drug abuse Mr Ryan may have undertaken, he has paid the highest price.
Mr Cusack told RTÉ News that neither he nor the Sunday Independent would be making any comment.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Rural, Community and Gaeltacht Affairs has said he has been taken aback over the 'attitude' of RTÉ in the aftermath of Mr Ryan's inquest.
Pat Carey said in a large organisation 'not short of preaching to the rest of us', RTÉ had sold itself short in not coming out earlier and commenting on Mr Ryan, his drug use and other issues raised at the inquest and in subsequent days.
RTÉ's Head of Corporate Communication Kevin Dawson told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that an anecdotal picture has built up and there had been a suspicion among some that Mr Ryan had been using cocaine.
Mr Dawson said there was no report recorded or alert being filed that management should have acted on.
