Tánaiste Michael McDowell refused to commit the Government to agreeing to a question-and-answer session when the House debates the Moriarty report on February 15th.
The report, published before Christmas, detailed payments made to former taoiseach Charles Haughey.
Mr McDowell said yesterday that the format of the debate had been discussed by the party whips, but no agreement had been reached.
"The House has considered many tribunal reports in the last year or two, and there has never been a question-and-answer session as far as I can recollect."
Earlier, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he understood it was proposed to discuss the report by way of statements only. He sought an assurance that there would be a question-and-answer session.
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said the debate would not be decided by the whips, but by the Government - which might choose to consult them.
"Will the Tánaiste stand over a situation where work, over almost 10 years, will not be permitted to be subject to a question-and-answer session in the House, given his record on this side of the House when the subject matter of this report was sitting where he is now?"
Mr McDowell said Mr Rabbitte seemed to imply that he could not put down questions other than during the debate on the report.
"Of course, he is mistaken. The House provides that the deputy can put down questions at any point."
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent asked Mr McDowell to reflect on the matter. "There is a world of difference between questions tabled for written or even oral reply and exchanges in the Dáil chamber."
