The Dáil has voted to proceed this evening with the second stage of a Bill that would allow the Government to shut down tribunals of inquiry.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan moved the order and a vote to proceed with the second stage of the Bill was passed by the House.
Introducing the second stage of the Bill, he said the Government believed it was important that future tribunals were more efficient and cost-effective. He said the total cost of all tribunals to the end of October 2007 was €316.6 million, of which €228 million was legal costs.
Mr Lenihan earlier said it was not his intention to close down any tribunal within the timescale it had set for itself to complete its work.
Both the Labour Party and Fine Gael opposed the taking of the second stage of the Bill at this time.
Labour's justice spokesman Pat Rabbitte said it was not that his party took issue with the substantive Bill.
"There is a need to update and modernise the law on public inquiries. We are in favour of doing that. But at this particular time, to introduce this Bill at a time when the Taoiseach himself is due to make an appearance again before one of the tribunals, we think it's inappropriate," he said.
Mr Rabbitte said it was "plainly wrong" for the Taoiseach to say the Bill had no application to existing tribunals because it did.
He said that if the Minister was agreeable to excising the reference in the Bill to existing tribunals, Labour would facilitate its passage.
"Otherwise, it's our submission that it's not appropriate to take it at this time."
Mr Rabbitte said that was not to make comment "one way or the other" on the Taoiseach's forthcoming testimony to the Mahon tribunal.
Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said he wished to draw the attention of the House to an amendment in the name of his party which would ensure that the Bill did not have effect until the existing tribunals had completed their work and issued their reports.
He said it seemed to him there was "something sinister afoot" in the timing of the Bill and he believed it was being brought forward between now and Christmas with a view to the Government displaying a "big stick" approach to the tribunals.
He asked that the Bill not be taken until such time as the Mahon tribunal in particular has reported to the House.
Mr Lenihan said the Bill reflects recommendations of the Law Reform Commission and not recommendations drawn up by a Government "for a particular political end".
"It is not my intention to apply this legislation to the tribunals within the envisaged timescales they have set themselves for their own completion. I'm giving my undertaking as a Minister in that regard," he said.
The Dáil has now proceeded to debate the second stage of the Bill.
The Taoiseach is again set to take the stand at Dublin Castle on Thursday and Friday December 20 thand 21 st.