Peadar Tóibín
Question:39. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the reason the timeframe for the NAMA Commission of Investigation has been extended. [46662/21]
View answerWednesday, 20 October 2021
Questions (39)
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 September 2021, I granted a request made by the Commission in its Eleventh Interim Report for an extension of its timeframe for reporting until the end of December 2021.
The Commission's Eleventh Interim Report set out the reasons that led it to request a further extension. It stated that arising from completion of the sworn evidence of a witness who had previously declined to assist its investigation in March 2021, the Commission was obliged to recall previous witnesses who had assisted its investigation and to contact individuals who had not previously been considered relevant to it.
The remote hearings involved concluded in May 2021 and following review of the testimonies the Commission was required to circulate relevant parts of the evidence to affected parties, some of whom subsequently provided additional documentation.
Currently, the Commission is completing an exercise in ensuring that no other parts of the evidence require disclosure.
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, I felt it was appropriate, in the circumstances, 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.
Questions Nos. 40 to 58, inclusive, resubmitted.