I must now deal with a postponed division relating to a motion re the National Asset Management Agency. On Wednesday, 29 June 2016, on the question that the amendment to the motion be made, a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 70(2) that division must be taken now. This is a short division.
National Asset Management Agency: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]
The following motion was moved by Deputy Mick Wallace on Wednesday, 29 June 2016:
That Dáil Éireann calls on the Government to establish a Commission of Investigation under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004, that would be sufficiently mandated to conduct a full and proper examination of all the facts surrounding the sale, by the National Asset Management Agency, of the Northern Ireland loan book portfolio, Project Eagle; and to establish a deadline for the completion and publication of the report by the Commission of Investigation.
Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:
To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:
“notes that:
— the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) Chairman has stated that the NAMA Board is fully satisfied that the Project Eagle sales process delivered the best possible return that could have been achieved for Irish taxpayers;
— it remains the case that no allegations of wrongdoing have been directed at NAMA, despite all the confusion and conflation in the coverage of this matter;
— ongoing investigations, including that being undertaken by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), must not be obstructed or compromised by a Commission of Investigation;
— NAMA have advised that the UK NCA has confirmed that no aspect of the Agency’s activities are under investigation;
— the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) must be afforded the appropriate time and space to complete its Section 9 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 value for money review into Project Eagle properly and in accordance with due process;
— the Minister for Finance has made relevant documentation held by the Department of Finance relating to Project Eagle publically available to the Committee of Public Accounts and on the Department of Finance website;
— NAMA has made extensive information available to various parliamentary committees including the Dáil Committee of Public Accounts; the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Finance and Personnel; all of this information, over 350 pages, is publicly available on the NAMA website and through the transcripts of the relevant committee hearings;
— in the context of all of this documentary evidence and testimony, no specific allegations of wrongdoing appropriate for a Commission of Investigation have emerged;
— the Government will continue to monitor ongoing criminal investigations and will seriously consider any specific allegations of wrongdoing appropriate for a Commission of Investigation should any such allegations be made; and
— NAMA is continuing to progress its mandate to maximise the return to the Irish State, as evidenced in its 2015 Annual Report and Accounts and should not be impeded in its continuing efforts to do so;
and resolves to:
— respect the integrity of the ongoing UK NCA criminal investigation;
— allow the C&AG to complete its work in accordance with due process;
— allow the Committee of Public Accounts to exercise its oversight; and
— call for any criminal allegations and evidence to be brought to the attention of the relevant authorities.”
-(Minister for Finance)
Amendment put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 58; Níl, 81.
Tá
- Bailey, Maria.
- Barrett, Seán.
- Breen, Pat.
- Brophy, Colm.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Burke, Peter.
- Byrne, Catherine.
- Canney, Seán.
- Cannon, Ciarán.
- Carey, Joe.
- Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
- Coveney, Simon.
- Daly, Jim.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Deasy, John.
- Deering, Pat.
- Doherty, Regina.
- Donohoe, Paschal.
- Doyle, Andrew.
- Durkan, Bernard J.
- English, Damien.
- Farrell, Alan.
- Fitzgerald, Frances.
- Fitzpatrick, Peter.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Griffin, Brendan.
- Halligan, John.
- Harris, Simon.
- Harty, Michael.
- Healy-Rae, Michael.
- Heydon, Martin.
- Kehoe, Paul.
- Kenny, Enda.
- Kyne, Seán.
- Lowry, Michael.
- McEntee, Helen.
- McGrath, Finian.
- McGrath, Mattie.
- McLoughlin, Tony.
- Madigan, Josepha.
- Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
- Moran, Kevin Boxer.
- Murphy, Dara.
- Murphy, Eoghan.
- Naughten, Denis.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Neville, Tom.
- Noonan, Michael.
- O'Connell, Kate.
- O'Donovan, Patrick.
- O'Dowd, Fergus.
- Phelan, John Paul.
- Ring, Michael.
- Rock, Noel.
- Ross, Shane.
- Stanton, David.
- Varadkar, Leo.
- Zappone, Katherine.
Níl
- Adams, Gerry.
- Aylward, Bobby.
- Barry, Mick.
- Boyd Barrett, Richard.
- Breathnach, Declan.
- Broughan, Thomas P.
- Browne, James.
- Buckley, Pat.
- Burton, Joan.
- Butler, Mary.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Cahill, Jackie.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Casey, Pat.
- Cassells, Shane.
- Chambers, Jack.
- Collins, Joan.
- Collins, Michael.
- Collins, Niall.
- Connolly, Catherine.
- Coppinger, Ruth.
- Cowen, Barry.
- Cullinane, David.
- Curran, John.
- Daly, Clare.
- Doherty, Pearse.
- Donnelly, Stephen S.
- Dooley, Timmy.
- Ellis, Dessie.
- Ferris, Martin.
- Fitzmaurice, Michael.
- Fleming, Sean.
- Gallagher, Pat The Cope.
- Haughey, Seán.
- Healy, Seamus.
- Healy-Rae, Danny.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Kenny, Gino.
- Kenny, Martin.
- Lahart, John.
- Lawless, James.
- MacSharry, Marc.
- McDonald, Mary Lou.
- McGrath, Michael.
- McGuinness, John.
- Martin, Micheál.
- Mitchell, Denise.
- Moynihan, Aindrias.
- Munster, Imelda.
- Murphy O'Mahony, Margaret.
- Murphy, Catherine.
- Murphy, Eugene.
- Murphy, Paul.
- Nolan, Carol.
- Ó Broin, Eoin.
- Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
- Ó Cuív, Éamon.
- Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
- Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
- O'Brien, Jonathan.
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Keeffe, Kevin.
- O'Loughlin, Fiona.
- O'Reilly, Louise.
- O'Rourke, Frank.
- O'Sullivan, Jan.
- O'Sullivan, Maureen.
- Penrose, Willie.
- Pringle, Thomas.
- Quinlivan, Maurice.
- Rabbitte, Anne.
- Ryan, Brendan.
- Scanlon, Eamon.
- Sherlock, Sean.
- Shortall, Róisín.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Smith, Bríd.
- Stanley, Brian.
- Tóibín, Peadar.
- Troy, Robert.
- Wallace, Mick.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Regina Doherty and Kevin Boxer Moran; Níl, Deputies Clare Daly and Mick Wallace.
Amendment declared lost.
I move amendment No. 2:
To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:
"notes that:
-- there are ongoing legitimate concerns regarding aspects of the sale by the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) of the Northern Ireland loan book portfolio, Project Eagle;
-- some deeply troubling and extremely serious allegations relating to the sale in Northern Ireland have come into the public domain;
-- it is imperative these concerns and allegations are fully addressed and investigated in a comprehensive and timely manner;
-- the UK National Crime Agency is currently conducting a criminal investigation and this investigation is at a crucial stage; and
-- the Comptroller and Auditor General is currently conducting a Section 9 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 value for money review into Project Eagle and, when this is completed, it will be considered by the Committee of Public Accounts;
agrees that:
-- no action should be taken at this stage which could potentially hamper the criminal investigation into these matters;
-- the Committee of Public Accounts will, following completion of the Comptroller and Auditor General special report, have an important role in assessing the extent to which taxpayers' interests were fully protected during the work of NAMA; and
-- a Commission of Investigation may be necessary once the outstanding criminal investigations have been concluded and, in that scenario, should be established without delay; and
in the meantime, calls for continuing full co-operation to be provided by all State agencies, including NAMA and the Department of Finance, in all relevant investigations into this serious matter."
On the question that amendment No. 2 to the motion be agreed to, a division has been claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 70(2) that division must be taken now.
Amendment put:
The Dáil divided: Tá, 105; Níl, 38.
Tá
- Aylward, Bobby.
- Bailey, Maria.
- Barrett, Seán.
- Brassil, John.
- Breathnach, Declan.
- Breen, Pat.
- Brophy, Colm.
- Browne, James.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Burke, Peter.
- Burton, Joan.
- Butler, Mary.
- Byrne, Catherine.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Cahill, Jackie.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Canney, Seán.
- Cannon, Ciarán.
- Carey, Joe.
- Casey, Pat.
- Cassells, Shane.
- Chambers, Jack.
- Collins, Michael.
- Collins, Niall.
- Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
- Coveney, Simon.
- Cowen, Barry.
- Curran, John.
- Daly, Jim.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Deasy, John.
- Deering, Pat.
- Doherty, Regina.
- Donohoe, Paschal.
- Dooley, Timmy.
- Doyle, Andrew.
- Durkan, Bernard J.
- English, Damien.
- Farrell, Alan.
- Fitzgerald, Frances.
- Fitzpatrick, Peter.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Fleming, Sean.
- Gallagher, Pat The Cope.
- Griffin, Brendan.
- Halligan, John.
- Harris, Simon.
- Harty, Michael.
- Haughey, Seán.
- Healy-Rae, Danny.
- Healy-Rae, Michael.
- Heydon, Martin.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Kehoe, Paul.
- Kelly, Alan.
- Kenny, Enda.
- Kyne, Seán.
- Lahart, John.
- Lawless, James.
- Lowry, Michael.
- MacSharry, Marc.
- McEntee, Helen.
- McGrath, Finian.
- McGrath, Mattie.
- McGrath, Michael.
- McGuinness, John.
- McLoughlin, Tony.
- Madigan, Josepha.
- Martin, Catherine.
- Martin, Micheál.
- Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
- Moran, Kevin Boxer.
- Moynihan, Aindrias.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Murphy O'Mahony, Margaret.
- Murphy, Dara.
- Murphy, Eoghan.
- Murphy, Eugene.
- Naughten, Denis.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Neville, Tom.
- Noonan, Michael.
- Ó Cuív, Éamon.
- O'Connell, Kate.
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Donovan, Patrick.
- O'Dowd, Fergus.
- O'Keeffe, Kevin.
- O'Loughlin, Fiona.
- O'Rourke, Frank.
- O'Sullivan, Jan.
- Penrose, Willie.
- Phelan, John Paul.
- Rabbitte, Anne.
- Ring, Michael.
- Rock, Noel.
- Ross, Shane.
- Ryan, Brendan.
- Ryan, Eamon.
- Scanlon, Eamon.
- Sherlock, Sean.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Troy, Robert.
- Varadkar, Leo.
- Zappone, Katherine.
Níl
- Adams, Gerry.
- Barry, Mick.
- Boyd Barrett, Richard.
- Broughan, Thomas P.
- Buckley, Pat.
- Collins, Joan.
- Connolly, Catherine.
- Coppinger, Ruth.
- Cullinane, David.
- Daly, Clare.
- Doherty, Pearse.
- Donnelly, Stephen S.
- Ellis, Dessie.
- Ferris, Martin.
- Fitzmaurice, Michael.
- Healy, Seamus.
- Kenny, Gino.
- Kenny, Martin.
- McDonald, Mary Lou.
- Mitchell, Denise.
- Munster, Imelda.
- Murphy, Catherine.
- Murphy, Paul.
- Nolan, Carol.
- Ó Broin, Eoin.
- Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
- Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
- Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
- O'Brien, Jonathan.
- O'Reilly, Louise.
- O'Sullivan, Maureen.
- Pringle, Thomas.
- Quinlivan, Maurice.
- Shortall, Róisín.
- Smith, Bríd.
- Stanley, Brian.
- Tóibín, Peadar.
- Wallace, Mick.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Michael Moynihan and Fiona O'Loughlin; Níl, Deputies Richard Boyd Barrett and Denise Mitchell.
Amendment declared carried.
Question put: "That the motion, as amended, be agreed to."
The Dáil divided: Tá, 90; Níl, 33.
Tá
- Bailey, Maria.
- Barrett, Seán.
- Brassil, John.
- Breathnach, Declan.
- Brophy, Colm.
- Browne, James.
- Bruton, Richard.
- Burke, Peter.
- Burton, Joan.
- Butler, Mary.
- Byrne, Catherine.
- Byrne, Thomas.
- Cahill, Jackie.
- Calleary, Dara.
- Canney, Seán.
- Carey, Joe.
- Casey, Pat.
- Cassells, Shane.
- Chambers, Jack.
- Collins, Michael.
- Collins, Niall.
- Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
- Curran, John.
- Daly, Jim.
- D'Arcy, Michael.
- Deasy, John.
- Deering, Pat.
- Doherty, Regina.
- Donohoe, Paschal.
- Dooley, Timmy.
- Durkan, Bernard J.
- English, Damien.
- Farrell, Alan.
- Fitzgerald, Frances.
- Fitzpatrick, Peter.
- Flanagan, Charles.
- Fleming, Sean.
- Gallagher, Pat The Cope.
- Griffin, Brendan.
- Harris, Simon.
- Harty, Michael.
- Haughey, Seán.
- Healy-Rae, Danny.
- Healy-Rae, Michael.
- Heydon, Martin.
- Howlin, Brendan.
- Kehoe, Paul.
- Kelly, Alan.
- Kyne, Seán.
- Lahart, John.
- Lawless, James.
- McEntee, Helen.
- McGrath, Finian.
- McGrath, Mattie.
- McGrath, Michael.
- McGuinness, John.
- McLoughlin, Tony.
- Martin, Catherine.
- Martin, Micheál.
- Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
- Moran, Kevin Boxer.
- Moynihan, Aindrias.
- Moynihan, Michael.
- Murphy O'Mahony, Margaret.
- Murphy, Dara.
- Murphy, Eoghan.
- Murphy, Eugene.
- Naughton, Hildegarde.
- Neville, Tom.
- Noonan, Michael.
- Ó Cuív, Éamon.
- O'Connell, Kate.
- O'Dea, Willie.
- O'Dowd, Fergus.
- O'Loughlin, Fiona.
- O'Rourke, Frank.
- O'Sullivan, Jan.
- Penrose, Willie.
- Phelan, John Paul.
- Rabbitte, Anne.
- Ring, Michael.
- Rock, Noel.
- Ross, Shane.
- Ryan, Brendan.
- Ryan, Eamon.
- Sherlock, Sean.
- Smith, Brendan.
- Stanton, David.
- Varadkar, Leo.
- Zappone, Katherine.
Níl
- Adams, Gerry.
- Barry, Mick.
- Boyd Barrett, Richard.
- Broughan, Thomas P.
- Buckley, Pat.
- Connolly, Catherine.
- Coppinger, Ruth.
- Cullinane, David.
- Daly, Clare.
- Doherty, Pearse.
- Ellis, Dessie.
- Ferris, Martin.
- Fitzmaurice, Michael.
- Healy, Seamus.
- Kenny, Gino.
- Kenny, Martin.
- McDonald, Mary Lou.
- Mitchell, Denise.
- Munster, Imelda.
- Murphy, Catherine.
- Murphy, Paul.
- Nolan, Carol.
- Ó Broin, Eoin.
- Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
- Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
- Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
- O'Brien, Jonathan.
- O'Reilly, Louise.
- Quinlivan, Maurice.
- Smith, Bríd.
- Stanley, Brian.
- Tóibín, Peadar.
- Wallace, Mick.
Tellers: Tá, Deputies Michael Moynihan and Fiona O'Loughlin; Níl, Deputies Denise Mitchell and Aengus Ó Snodaigh.
Question declared carried.