An internal Public Accounts Committee row over questions to justice chiefs about alleged theft by prison staff in jails is to be referred to a Dáil dispute body.

Ten Fianna Fáil TDs have broken ranks to declare a grand coalition with Fine Gael or the backing of a Fine Gael-led minority government cannot be ruled out.

Fine Gael has given its strongest signal to date that a Coalition with Fianna Fáil is possible.