A garda investigation is ongoing into reports that Mr Justice Michael Moriarty's private phone line was tapped.

The revelations come after Gardaí received a report that the landline used by the tribunal judge had been compromised.

It is thought that sensitive phone calls made on the judge’s private landline were monitored and recorded just a week before he published his findings in the Moriarty tribunal.

The phone tapping allegations serve to add more intrigue and media interest to an already high profile case.

The report was published last Tuesday after 14 years of deliberation. The 2,230 page report’s main conclusion was that Denis O’Brien gave money to former minister Michael Lowry who then helped the business man secure a mobile phone licence 16 years ago.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny last night defended his special advisor, Mark Kennelly, who worked under Mr Lowry during the period being investigated by the Moriarty tribunal.

"Mr Kennelly has been working for Fine Gael for the past 21 years. Only one brief period was spent with Michael Lowry," Mr Kenny said. "He (Mr Kennelly) denies all knowledge, role or involvement whatsoever in the awarding of the second mobile phone licence."

The appointment of Mr Kennelly as advisor to the new Taoiseach has lead to suggestions that they have failed to move on from past controversies.

Mr Lowry also defended his advisor, telling the Irish Independent that Mr Kennelly had “nothing to do with the issues relating to the licence

"I think it's a sad twist that anybody would infer that Mark Kennelly's career should be in any way tied into this episode," he said. "Mark Kennelly is a person of the highest integrity." Said the disgraced former Minister.

Later this week there will be a special Dáil debate on the Moriarty tribunal which opposition parties will surely aim to embarrass Fine Gael.