It has emerged that the Oireachtas banking inquiry could be given wider powers than first expected.

The procedural committee of the Seanad says laws should be changed so that Central Bank employees can pass on confidential information.

It has also called for the inquiry to be widened so that the inquiry investigates the role of the Eurozone in the Irish financial collapse.

The changes could be a back door to gaining access to documents from the European Central Bank (ECB), which is reluctant to take part in the inquiry.