The Taoiseach has been accused of misleading the Dail, over an attempt by Alan Shatter to cancel a debate.

Opposition TDs say the Taoiseach yesterday denied that Alan Shatter had asked for a debate on a Commission of Investigation to be called off.

The Taoiseach today confirmed that the former minister had written to him expressing legal concerns, forcing the two-day debate to be abandoned, but denied misleading the opposition.

Opposition TDs today walked out of the Dáil after it emerged that Alan Shatter had tried to stop a debate on a Commission of Investigation.

The walkout came after Enda Kenny confirmed that the former minister's legal team had tried to stop a debate on the findings of the Guerin report from going ahead.

The findings of the Guerin report forced Mr Shatter to resign and he is currently taking legal action to quash some of its findings.

A two-day debate had been scheduled for this week - but that has now been cancelled, because it may compromise Alan Shatter's legal action against the Guerin findings.

Following the walkout by opposition TDs, members of Sinn Féin, Fianna Fail and Independents presented a united front and spoke to the press outside Leinster House.

Fiann Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the walkout was “in protest at the extraordinary situation” arising from the debate on the Guerin report being cancelled and “the members of the House ... essentially being muzzled”.

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said he “gave the Taoiseach ample opportunity” but Enda Kenny “persisted in his ... just bull-headed way that he was going to push it through.”

Independent TD Mick Wallace told the press he felt the walkout was “a bit of a turning point.”

Watch opposition TDs speaking to the press in the wake of the walkout in the video below