Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In regard to a voluntary agreement to abide by the CCMA, the trade says the sale is down to a two-horse race and I understand the liquidators cannot comment either way. The trade magazines are saying it is down to Oaktree Capital and Lone Star Funds. Oaktree Capital's own description of itself states it emphasises an opportunistic value-oriented and risk controlled approach to investment in distressed debt. Lone Star Funds states that it invests globally in distressed debt. If these two bidders, or ones like them, are the successful bidders, they are debt collectors. They may be reputable and extremely respectable and professional firms - in no way do I suggest they are not - but they are not banks. They are professional investors in distressed debt. On the basis there is no written voluntary agreement, if when the successful bidder emerges it says it never agreed to adhere voluntarily to the CCMA, will we have any proof it did?