Michael Noonan has denied reports that the Department of Finance had refused to supply documents to the inquiry on IBRC.

The finance minister says the Department supplied all documents, as requested by the Commission of Investigation, in unredacted format.

He's told reporters in Brussels that he first became aware of the Commission's legal troubles on Thursday evening, ahead of a formal letter being sent to government on Friday.

But he says his legal team believed the Commission had the right to demand all paperwork - and didn't think IBRC had the power to refuse it:

Meanwhile the Tanaiste says she's determined to see the inquiry continue with its work and investigate the matters originally intended.

Joan Burton also expressed her confidence in the Attorney-General, Maire Whelan.

But the Labour leader's confidence in Whelan is being questioned by opposition TDs, who say the legal problems should - and could - have been predicted.

Emergency legislation to ensure the inquiry can be completed is being considered by the coalition, after it was contacted by inquiry chairman Mr Justice Brian Cregan.

His inquiry has been fundamentally handicapped after reports that while the IBRC liquidators are willing to share sensitive documents, they are not happy for those documents to be circulated with other parties.

But this is a legal requirement under the 2004 Laws which underpin the legislation - meaning the inquiry is, as is stands, unable to inquire into the SiteServ sale or any of the others under its remit.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly reports:

VIDEO: Joan Burton expresses confidence in the Attorney General: