Mattie McGrath
Question:134. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Taoiseach the reason the timeframe for the NAMA Commission of Investigation was extended until 30 September 2021. [18717/21]
View answerWednesday, 21 April 2021
Questions (134)
Written answers
The NAMA Commission of Investigation, whose sole member is Judge John Cooke, was established in June 2017 following consultations by the then Government with Opposition parties to investigate the sale by NAMA of its Northern Ireland portfolio, known as Project Eagle.
The Commission’s original deadline for reporting was 31 June 2018 but following several requests from the Commission, its timeframe for reporting has been extended. Most recently, in March 2021, I granted a request made by the Commission in its Tenth Interim Report for an extension of its timeframe for reporting until the end of September 2021.
The Commission's Tenth Interim Report set out the reasons that led it to request a further extension. Firstly, it stated the effect of the pandemic restrictions were far greater than anticipated and the impact of the restrictions on the members of the Commission team significantly slowed the Commission’s progress in the collaborative work of drafting its final report.
Secondly, it stated that an individual outside the jurisdiction of the State who had previously declined to provide evidence to the Commission has agreed to provide a statement to assist the investigation. After some difficulty due to the pandemic restrictions in the State and the location of the witness, the individual concerned provided sworn evidence to the Commission in early February 2021 and was due to finish giving evidence to the Commission. The Commission's Interim Report also stated that preparations for the first draft of its final report were well advanced and that once the hearing of the witness concluded it would amend the draft text of the report to incorporate where necessary the newly received evidence.
The Interim Report also noted that outstanding tasks then to be completed by the Commission include distribution of its draft final report under section 34 of the Act to people identified or identifiable in it and consideration of any applications or submissions received as well as dealing with any applications for third party costs under section 24 of the Act.
Having considered the matter, I was of the view that given the reasons outlined in the Interim Report and the advanced stage of the Commission’s investigation, there was little option but to grant the Commission’s request. I therefore decided to grant the extension as provided for under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 and arranged for the Interim Report to be published and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Commission is fully independent in its investigations and other than what is published in its Interim Reports I have no information on how its investigations are proceeding.