Deputies appearing before a Dail committee on the Ben Dunne payments issue should be given immunity, the Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Mary Harney, said.
If the committee was to get at the truth, a special Bill would have to be passed before the Christmas recess, she said on the order of business.
The Minister for Finance, Mrs Quinn (deputising for the Taoiseach), said the issue was dealt with under amendments to the Compellability of Witnesses Bill which passed its second stage and had been before a Dail committee for nearly a year.
It was a matter for that committee to decide on the amendments and have the Bill finalised by the House.