The Taoiseach’s comments earlier this month, in which he suggested the file relating to the Sept 2008 decision had been “either shredded or disposed of”, prompted a furious reaction from Fianna Fáil.

The party said Mr Kenny had cast unfair aspersions on, among others, the late finance minister Brian Lenihan.

Last night, Mr Kenny said he had not intended to suggest he had evidence of any file being shredded.

“I did not intend to suggest that I have evidence that documentation was destroyed or otherwise removed,” said Mr Kenny.

“My remarks were intended to highlight what I regard as a remarkably small volume of documentation held in my department from that night.”

Mr Kenny was responding to a parliamentary question from the Fianna Fáil finance spokesman, Cork TD Michael McGrath. Mr McGrath welcomed Mr Kenny’s clarification but said the original remarks had been “flippant” and the Taoiseach needed to be more careful when answering questions in the Dáil.

“I’m pleased that the Taoiseach has clarified that he doesn’t have any information that a file was shredded or in any way removed,” said Mr McGrath.

“His comments in the Dáil cast a cloud over his predecessor in the office of Taoiseach, over former and current civil servants, and indeed over former ministers, one of whom was the late Brian Lenihan.

“It was a flippant remark and I think he needs to be more careful when dealing with questions in the House.”