Businessman Denis O'Brien has claimed that RTÉ is being deliberately used to damage him.

In a lengthy article in today’s Irish Times, Mr O'Brien said the documents cited in independent TD Catherine Murphy's Dáil statement last Thursday, and over which he has obtained a High Court injunction against RTÉ, were stolen and tampered with.

He said he has been "dragged into a media frenzy" because of RTÉ's attempt to publish his private bank details and what he describes as Ms Murphy's desire to distort them.

He also said the leaking of the documents to RTÉ was a deliberate attempt to misrepresent his personal banking relationship.

Ms Murphy has repeatedly said that she is satisfied that the documents she cited are robust.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald has accused the Government of virtual silence on the matter of Dáil privilege.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Ms McDonald said the Taoiseach has been entirely silent and the Tánaiste has only made a statement through a spokesperson.

"As a member of the Oireachtas and as an Irish citizen I would have expected a far more robust assertion and defence of the rights of the Dáil to come from those who head up Government," she said.

She added that, given the level of commentary and level of concern that has emerged on this issue, she does not think it is unreasonable to expect that the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste should have made a robust statement of defence.

"What you haven't had is a comprehensive statement in terms of confidence in the Dáil, in terms of everyone understanding the democratic rules of engagement and members of the Dáil to act in the public interest and in good faith, that will from time to time occasion the use of Dáil privilege.

"And that nobody, no big interest, no wealthy interest should be allowed to seek to fetter or obstruct that in any way."

In his Irish Times article, Mr O'Brien criticised Ms McDonald for revealing the names of those on an Ansbacher list earlier this year.

Ms McDonald defended her decision to use her Dáil privilege to make that revelation.

"I stand over my decision at the time to exercise my Dáil privilege. I do not accept for a second I abused my privilege.

"I judged this in good faith and thought about it carefully and thought that it was necessary to spell out the position."