THE GOVERNMENT is to agree to a new inquiry into the After the 1981 Stardust disaster.

The families of the 48 victims have been saying there's new evidence about the fire, which wasn't available at the time of the last review in 2009.

These claims are now to be investigated by a trusted third party, potentially opening up the way to a full Commission of Investigation on the cause of the fire in 1981.

The agreement between Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance comes ahead of a Dail debate on the issue this evening.

The two sides of government were at odds over their stance - with the Independent Alliance, and in particular the junior minister Finian McGrath, demanding an inquiry and seeking a free vote.

Fine Gael, however, has been reluctant to approve any inquiry unless it believes it is justified by new evidence.

The families of the victims say that eyewitness accounts were not made available to the last State inquiry, in 2008, and that its findings were edited before publication. 

The legal figure will now investigate their claims, and a Commission of Investigation will be set up if the claims are found to hold water.

Finian McGrath, who represents the Artane area where the 1981 fire took place, says now is the time to investigate.