A total of 30 more cases, each involving a loss of more than €10 million to the taxpayer, will be examined in the inquiry into the Siteserv sale, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.

He told the Dáil the special liquidator's review would go back to 2009 and continue to 2013. "In the event of any perception of a conflict of interest in that review, a retired High Court judge was appointed to adjudicate on those matters,'' said Mr Kenny.

He said the framework structure set in place, when Siteserv was dealt with, did not require mandatory reporting to the Minister for Finance. “It does now,’’ he added.

The Taoiseach was responding to renewed Opposition criticism of the Government's handling of the inquiry. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the crucial issue of concerns being raised by the Department of Finance was not being dealt with.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said Minister for Finance Michael Noonan had "stonewalled'' on the issue in the Dáil from 2012 onwards. "Why did he withhold information from the Dail?'' he asked.