Legislation to allow for a banking inquiry has been passed by the Dáil. A Bill setting out a system for the Oireachtas to hold public investigations was passed by 123 votes to 11.

However the Government blocked proposals from opposition TDs which they said would have ensured the independence of the Bill.

Sean Fleming of Fianna Fail wanted to ensure that inquiries were always chaired by a member of the opposition.

Yesterday the Finance Minister said he would write to all bailed-out banks and order the preservation of any taped phone calls in the run-up to the bank guarantee in 2008.

The Taoiseach also confirmed to the Dáil that recordings similar to the leaked so-called 'Anglo Tapes' do exist in other financial institutions.

Michael Noonan has also confirmed that the 'Anglo Tapes' were given to the Financial Regulator in 2009 but that an inquiry was suspended pending possible criminal prosecutions.

He has also confirmed that an investigation by the special liquidator of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) is underway to see if the leak of the tapes to the Irish Independent came from there.