The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been told it cannot release the salaries of senior managers at the Rehab Group.
TDs have been given legal advice that they have no right to release information which was submitted by Rehab in confidence.
They have also been told that the head of the Health Service Executive (HSE), Tony O'Brien, gave an incorrect account of the law when he said he had no option but to release the figures.
The managers had refused to reveal their salaries at the PAC meeting yesterday, but the HSE said it had the data and could be legally forced to reveal it.
The Committee took legal advice about whether it could publish the salaries given to the HSE by Rehab on a confidential basis.
The HSE said it had no option but to hand over the salary information to the Committee.
But the PAC chairman John McGuinness says he is hoping Rehab will still agree to release the figures on a voluntary basis.
Earlier today, Minister Joan Burton said Rehab executives have a "responsibility" to publish their executives’ salaries.
She said Rehab plays a vital role for people with disabilities in Ireland, but that the charity bosses have a responsibility to account for public money.