Taoiseach Brian Cowen has told the Dáil that matters surrounding Sean Quinn's stake in Anglo Irish Bank may have to be investigated further by the Financial Regulator.
He said that Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan was aware over the course of the last year that a large overhang of shares in Anglo Irish was held by a particular investor and related persons.
He said that at the time this was considered by the bank and the market to be a source of instability and that the institution was seeking some resolution of this issue.
Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said the Government was soft on corporate crime in light of the Anglo Irish Bank loans controversy.
He said he found it difficult to believe that laws were not broken by management at the bank.
Mr Gilmore insisted it was not acceptable that people involved could just walk off into the sunset.
Earlier Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny claimed that the Government was dancing to the tune of banks and developers but the Taoisach said he rejected such a suggestion with the contempt it deserved.
Mr Cowen said the Financial Regulator and the Director of Corporate Enforcement were looking into issues at the bank.
