Noonan: Government department did not refuse to hand documents to IBRC inquiry

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

He said that the Department supplied all documents, as requested by the Commission of Investigation, in unredacted format.

He 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.

However, he said that his legal team believed the Commission had the right to demand all paperwork - and did not think IBRC had the power to refuse it.

"The Department of Finance has given every document to the judge that he has requested, and we have given it in unredacted form," he said.

"We also pointed out that we had legal advice that some of the information in the documents was confidential, but we also advised that our legal advice was that the judge's powers could overrule this."

The Commission of Investigation into the IBRC is on the brink of collapse after the judge heading it said he could not investigate cases due to confidentiality and legal privilege.

The coalition is considering emergency laws to try and fix the problem, and the Tánaiste Joan Burton says she is determined there will be an inquiry into the write-offs at the former Anglo Irish Bank.

She has also expressed confidence in Attorney-General Máire Whelan, who approved the terms of reference for the inquiry.

"Yes, I mean why wouldn't I?" she said.

"She's somebody who has done amazing legal work for this Government on a whole series of different issues.

"But as I said this bill was constructed in 2004 - it's been used in a significant number of investigations and inquiries."