Irish Times editor Geraldine Kennedy and public affairs correspondent Colm Keena have been summonsed to appear before a public sitting of the Mahon (planning) tribunal on Friday to answer questions on this newspaper's report that disclosed details of the investigation into payments to Bertie Ahern while he was minister for finance.
Tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon has ordered that copies of all documents quoted in the article, which appeared in last Thursday's Irish Times, be handed over at the sitting.
He has also ordered that Ms Kennedy and Mr Keena attend to answer questions on the source and whereabouts of the documents.
Judge Mahon also ordered that the witnesses answer questions about correspondence between the tribunal and this newspaper since the report was published.
The tribunal wrote to The Irish Times on Thursday maintaining that the article it published was in breach of an interlocutory injunction of the Supreme Court, and sought an explanation. An explanation was provided.
The tribunal also wrote last week to all national print and broadcast media, reminding them of restrictions on the publication of matters being inquired into by the tribunal.
These restrictions exist by way of the interlocutory injunction, which was granted by the Supreme Court last year after a High Court hearing in which the court ruled against the tribunal.
The tribunal appealed to the Supreme Court and the appeal has yet to be heard.
The case involves the tribunal and the Sunday Business Post.