Michael McGrath
Ceist:67. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on the report of the Northern Assembly on the sale of Project Eagle loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4940/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 22 March 2016
Ceisteanna (67)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, the stated purpose of the Northern Ireland Finance and Personnel Committee's Review was 'to undertake a fact-finding review in relation to the operations of NAMA in Northern Ireland, including the "Project Eagle" sale and related policy and regulatory issues that fall within the DFP [Department of Finance and Personnel] remit.
The remit of the Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel clearly falls under the jurisdiction of the Northern Ireland Assembly, therefore I do not propose to comment on such matters.
I acknowledge that the Committee's investigatory work clearly involved gathering, and reviewing, a significant amount of oral and documentary evidence. My own Department assisted the Committee in this regard by providing a large volume of documentation in response to the Committee's requests. Separately, NAMA also provided detailed written responses to over 100 questions submitted by the Committee. I understand that the Committee has published all of this documentation, as well as the other evidence gathered in the course of its review, in a detailed timeline on their website.
The Committee's report includes a number of points regarding NAMA. I understand that the NAMA Chairman, Mr Frank Daly, has already written to the Finance and Personnel Chair, Mr Daithí McKay MLA, to address some of these points. Given NAMA's has an independent mandate and Board of Directors, I do not propose to elaborate on the points raised by Mr Daly. The NAMA Chairman's letter can be found on the NAMA website via the following link:
https://www.nama.ie/fileadmin/user_upload/NAMA_Response_to_Committee_for_Finance_and_Personnel_-_11.03.16.pdf
The NAMA Act 2009 establishes that NAMA is accountable to Parliamentary Committees of the Oireachtas. I commend NAMA for providing thorough and detailed written responses to the questions posed by the Finance and Personnel Committee. I understand that NAMA offered to answer further written questions, should this have been required by the Finance and Personnel Committee. I understand, in this respect, that the Committee did not submit any additional questions to NAMA.