The tribunal set up to investigate an alleged smear campaign against garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe has granted legal representation to a number of individuals and organisations.
The Disclosures Tribunal, chaired by Supreme Court Judge Peter Charleton, will examine allegations that senior gardaí were involved in a campaign against Sgt McCabe.
This evening, he granted representation to parties including the current and former garda commissioner, Sgt McCabe, former garda press officer Superintendent David Taylor and former minister for justice, Alan Shatter.
In his ruling, published on the tribunal's website, the judge granted full representation to lawyers for An Garda Síochána, the former commissioner Martin Callinan and current Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan.
They will all be represented by the same legal team.
Justice Charleton said he would rule on further applications by other members of the force at a later stage.
Justice Charleton said he had not reached a conclusion on concerns raised by lawyers for Sgt McCabe and Superintendent Taylor about the same lawyers representing the current and former commissioners.
Mr Justice Charleton said he may seek the views of relevant parties if he thinks it necessary.
Limited representation was granted to Mr Shatter, RTÉ and any of its employees who may be concerned in the tribunal's terms of reference.
Limited representation was also granted to garda whistleblower Keith Harrison and Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness.
A number of other named gardaí were also granted representation: Sergeant Yvonne Martin, Sergeant Brigid McGowan, Inspector Goretti Sheridan and Sergeant David Durkin.
The judge granted representation to the Child and Family Agency, Tusla and the HSE.
Mr Justice Charleton said he wanted the HSE's efforts to be coordinated with Tusla to help in the efficient and economic running of the tribunal.
The judge said he had decided neither to grant nor refuse an application for representation on behalf of the publishers of the Irish Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers and a number of journalists in relation to journalistic privilege.
He said he would defer his consideration of this until he had clarified matters in relation to the factual background concerning their application.
He noted that lawyers for the Irish Times and Independent News and Media had not pressed their applications for representation.
The judge said he would consider applications made on behalf of Garda Maire O'Reilly and Garda Nicholas Keogh in relation to the tribunal's second module at the appropriate time.
Mr Justice Charleton has not said when he expects to begin hearing evidence in public.
