Attempts are being made to have Denis O'Brien appear before the Banking Inquiry.

Fianna Fáil TD Michael McGrath has confirmed he wants to expand the terms of reference for the inquiry - with Mr O'Brien then being called in to give evidence.

It's thought that the businessman would be asked to give evidence from the perspective of a corporate borrower, given that the inquiry's already due to hear from large developers.

However the proposal has not yet been agreed - and committee sources say they are reluctant to overlap with the work of the Commission of Investigation which has now been set up to investigate matters at IBRC, including some transactions involving Mr O'Brien.

It's also understood there are concerns about expanding the inquiry's workload - especially as it already faces a difficult schedule of hearings with a final report expected by November. The inquiry will collapse if the Dáil is dissolved for a general election before it completes its work.

A decision on the proposal is due when the inquiry meets in private next week and Deputy McGrath has declined to comment further in advance of that decision.