The Cabinet has agreed to a proposal by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald to establish an independent review of the department.
It will be chaired by Kevin Toland, who is Chief Executive of the Dublin Airport Authority.
The review follows criticism of the department in the Guerin Report.
Minister Fitzgerald said: "The Department of Justice and Equality plays an essential role within Government and on behalf of the citizens of Ireland.
"It has many strengths across its wide range of functions but there are also areas of its work that require further evaluation and improvement."
The Guerin Report raised concern about the procedures for dealing with the allegations made by garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe.
It led to the resignation of former minister Alan Shatter.
Department Secretary General Brian Purcell recently told an Oireachtas committee that the arrangements for dealing with whistleblowers were not fit for purpose.
Other members of the review group include Kathleen O'Toole, former chief inspector with the Garda Inspectorate, and former attorney general David Byrne.
The group will report to the minister by 11 July.
