The cabinet meeting has ended without any decision on how to salvage the inquiry into IBRC.

It's understood that ministers believe more work is needed to examine what powers the inquiry will need to be given to do its work.

Opposition leaders earlier said they would be willing to pass emergency laws to allow the inquiry resume its work, after it emerged it could not access key financial documents at the bank.

Fianna Fáil's Darragh O'Brien says the advice given by the Attorney General, when the inquiry was being set up, is now open to question:

The opposition parties say they would be willing to allow emergency legislation to give extra powers to the IBRC inquiry if needed.

But Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein have both questioned the position of the Attorney General, and her legal advice to the government when the Cregan Commission was being set up.

Fianna Fail also says it might consider calling the Attorney General, Máire Whelan, into the Seanad this afternoon to explain the legal advice she gave the government at the time.

Earlier our political correspondent Gavan Reilly reports: