NAMA Operations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2016

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Questions (267, 268, 270)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

267. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 60 to 74 of 18 May 2016 and the consequences of leaks from the National Asset Management Agency, if all the debtor lists of Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks, Anglo Irish Bank and the Irish Nationwide Building Society that were transferred to the agency, reported to total 800 cases, and associated loan and valuation information were leaked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13582/16]

Marc MacSharry

Question:

268. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 60 to 74 of 18 May 2016 and the consequences of leaks from the National Asset Management Agency, if the agency notified the Data Protection Commissioner within two weeks of becoming aware of these leaks, in accordance with the personal data security breach code of practice, as approved by the commissioner under section 2(b) of the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13583/16]

Marc MacSharry

Question:

270. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 60 to 74 of 18 May 2016 and the consequences of leaks from the National Asset Management Agency, in particular, Parliamentary Question No. 70, which stated that the agency notified An Garda Síochána of the identity of the debtors in the leaked information, reported to be 800 cases, and given that a person has been convicted and that available information suggests An Garda Síochána contacted only a fraction of debtors during the three year investigation, why the agency will not give the number of affected debtors; if all affected debtors have been notified; if not, why and when they will be notified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13585/16]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 to 270, inclusive, together.

As I advised the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 61, 62, 63, 69 and 70 of 18 May 2016, information on the number of debtors potentially affected by the unauthorised disclosures is held by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation which carried out the investigation which led to the prosecution of a former NAMA officer.

Contrary to the assertion made in the Deputy's question, the previous response, of 18 May 2016, did not state that the "Agency notified An Garda Siochana of the identity of the debtors in the leaked information".  As previously advised, the investigation into this matter which led to criminal proceedings was undertaken by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. I am advised that the information collated during that investigation and the results of the searches are solely within the remit of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and NAMA is not privy to the information.

I am advised that on becoming aware of the potential leak of confidential data, NAMA issued High Court proceedings on 3 September 2012 in respect of the matter. Once the in camera restrictions in relation to these High Court proceedings were lifted on 12 September 2012, NAMA immediately reported the matter to An Garda Siochana and the Data Protection Commissioner on 12 September 2012 and that NAMA subsequently provided all information required by the Garda as part of their investigation.