The role of the media during the property boom in the lead-in to the banking crisis is under scrutiny today.

The Oireachtas Banking Inquiry will begin hearing from the editors of national newspapers today - as well as experts from both University College Dublin and Dublin Institute of Technology.

It will first hear from Julian Mercille and Harry Browne. Mr Mercille is lecturer at UCD, and the author of the book "The Role of the Media in the European Economic Crisis: The Case of Ireland."

While Mr Browne is a lecturer in the School of Media at DIT.

The committee will also hear from Tim Vaughan, editor of the Irish Examiner and Tom Murphy, chief executive of the Irish Examiner.

The committee will consider the role in mainstream media for scepticism about the sustainability of the housing boom, or the strength of the broader economy.

It will also look at potential conflicts of interest among media organisations and the promotion of property ownership over other forms of tenure.

Tomorrow the former head of RTÉ News, Ed Mulhall, and former editor of the Irish Independent, Gerry O'Regan, will be among those appearing.