Updated 12.05pm

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Everyone’s talking about…

The cabinet is set to meet this morning to finalise the terms of reference of the commission of investigation into certain IBRC transactions.

Mary Lou McDonald Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

Requests for the lower house to be recalled last week fell on deaf ears, as the row over Dáil privilege escalated following comments made about Denis O’Brien’s relationship with IBRC (formerly Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide) by independent TD Catherine Murphy.

• Court ruling: Media free to report Dáil comments about Denis O’Brien’s debts

Opposition TDs met with Finance Minister Michael Noonan yesterday to discuss the terms of reference of the investigation.

They want the scope of the inquiry to be widened to include departmental oversight and transactions made by the special liquidator after the bank was wound down in February 2013.

TDs will finally get their chance to have their say on the Dáil floor – with several hours of debate on the issue pencilled in today and tomorrow.

• The opposition are worried the IBRC inquiry won’t be out until AFTER the election

Speaking on Morning Ireland, Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said Noonan “seemed to be open” to suggestions made by the opposition at the meeting.

Echoing calls made by Murphy, she added that it needs to be clarified if any of the bank’s customers received preferential treatment or, as she put it, if  ”nod nod wink wink behaviour” went on.

Enda Kenny Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

On his way into cabinet this morning, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said once the terms of reference are signed off on, the judge overseeing the investigation will be entirely independent, stating: “Judges are not the pawns of any minister and they’re not the pawns of any government.”

Later, Noonan said he believed the government would get “a good result” from  discussions this morning and added that the terms of reference will “allow the judge to deal with all the issues that have been raised”.

But don’t expect that to satisfy the opposition.

Inside Leinster House

The IBRC debate is set to kick off just after 5pm today, and is set to be very interesting – and possibly quite shout-y.

The agenda

• The cabinet will meet this morning, where the IBRC inquiry and lead in water pipes are set to be discussed.
• Defence Minister Simon Coveney will be answering questions at 2pm.
• Enda Kenny will have his first Leaders’ Questions of the week at 3.15pm.
• The banking inquiry will hold a private meeting at 3.30pm.
• Environment Minister Alan Kelly will discuss climate action and low carbon legislation with the environment committee at 4.15pm.
• Senators will debate the new policing authority bill at 4.45pm.
• Shortly after 5pm the Dáil will begin debating the Commission of Investigation into IBRC, before adjourning at midnight.
• Representatives from Amnesty International will discuss its report on Ireland’s abortion laws with the health committee at 5.15pm.

What the others are saying

• Some Cork City councillors are unhappy Environment Minister Alan Kelly asked for the official opening of a social housing unit to be postponed until he could attend, according to the Irish Examiner.
• The same paper states that draft copies of the Fennelly Commission report into the resignation of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan will be given to ceratin individuals including the Taoiseach this week.
• The Irish Independent notes that Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor has been selected to represent the party in the Dún Laoghaire constituency in Dublin.

In case you missed it

• The opposition are worried the IBRC inquiry won’t be out until after the general election.
• A row has broken out among Anti Austerity Alliance activists in west Dublin.
• Enda Kenny opened a bottle bank yesterday.
• Averil Power had some more choice words for her former party Fianna Fáil.
• Renua Ireland leader Lucinda Creighton stopped by for a High Table Interview.
• Sol Campbell, former England and Arsenal defender, has confirmed he is running for mayor of London.

On the Twitter machine

Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony is embracing his new constituency…

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