Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2017
60. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Finance if he will initiate an external review of NAMA's legal department, further to evidence given at the Committee of Public Accounts concerning non-disclosure agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10010/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo my knowledge, the discussions at the Public Accounts Committee ("PAC") focused on potential "technical breaches" of a non-disclosure agreement by third parties.
I expect that all of the testimony provided to the PAC, including these discussions regarding non-disclosure agreements, is being considered by the PAC as works to produce its upcoming report.
It is important that we receive the report of the Public Accounts Committee on Project Eagle and consider any further information this report may bring to light, the findings it presents and the evidence substantiating such findings.
This Government and many Deputies, including the PAC Chairman, are aligned in the understanding that the imminent PAC report will be invaluable in assessing our next steps. We should consider and debate the contents and findings carefully before establishing the terms of reference for any such Commission of Investigation. There may well be questions currently being suggested for a Commission of Investigation which will be adequately covered off by the PAC report. There may also be findings supported by evidence which warrant further investigation.
We must ensure that any Commission of Investigation has specific terms of reference supported by evidence to justify its establishment. Commissions of Investigation can prove to be expensive and time consuming but serve an important purpose when other avenues of justice are not appropriate and when they are properly established on the basis of evidence to support their terms of reference.
It is appropriate that we wait until we have had the opportunity to consider the PAC's report and its findings on this matter, if any, before we discuss the merits, if any, of including an examination of potential "technical breaches" of an NDA within the terms of reference of a Commission of Investigation.
