The Government has not ruled out the possibility of holding a statutory inquiry into the death of Shane O'Farrell.
The 23-year-old Monaghan man was killed in a hit-and-run incident while out cycling near his home in Carrickmacross in 2011.
The law student was hit by driver Zigimantas Gridziuska, who had a string of convictions and was out on bail at the time of the incident.
The O'Farrell family said he should have been in prison at the time and blamed system and garda failings.
A motion put forward by Fianna Fáil calling for a change to the terms of reference of a scoping exercise, being carried out by Judge Gerard Haughton, was debated in the Dáil.
The Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, said he agreed with much of what was said by Fianna Fáil's justice spokesperson Jim O'Callaghan and that they were working toward achieving the same goal, which was finding a response for the O'Farrell family.
However, he told the Dáil that in this case the terms of reference for the scoping exercise are focused as required by law; set out in the Supreme Court case of Shatter and Guerin, in order to reduce the risk of legal challenge.
Minister Flanagan said he was expecting Judge Haughton's interim report by this Friday but it may be delayed to allow for further engagement with the O'Farrell family.
"Judge Haughton is free to make any recommendation he sees fit including the establishment of any form of statutory inquiry, or any form of non-statutory inquiry," he said.
Mr Flanagan told the house he was anxious to see real progress on this matter.
"However I would ask deputies to appreciate that I cannot and should not pre-judge Judge Haughton's report or change his terms of reference just as he is about to issue his initial report," he said.
Earlier, the Government was accused of trying to "water down" efforts to investigate the death of Mr O'Farrell.
Mr O'Callaghan said that the original terms of reference which were put down by Judge Haughton in April were rejected by the Minister in July.
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Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the Government needed to establish why Mr O'Farrell is not with his family today and to establish the truth.
Labour's Willie Penrose said there should be a review of changes in law and practice in relation to bail.
Last year both the Dáil and Seanad voted in favour of the Government setting up a full public inquiry into the circumstances before and after Mr O Farrell's death.
