The finance minister has confirmed there were discussions in 2012 about needing the army to secure Ireland's banks.

But Michael Noonan says he doesn't know if the Taoiseach was briefed on the matter, after Enda Kenny reported it to an international conference yesterday.

Opposition politicians have questioned the claims - saying if they're true, they should have been raised at the Banking Inquiry.

Others have questioned whether the Central Bank governor, who purportedly told the Taoiseach to consider the measure, would have had any role or felt it appropriate to make recommendations about Army deployment.

Tánaiste Joan Burton - who, as Social Protection minister, is responsible for payments to well over 1 million citizens - said she was not aware of any plans to defend banks in such a manner.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly reports.