Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On the social dimension, Mr. Daly has indicated that NAMA is engaged with local developers and that there are other aspects involved. NAMA is obliged to obtain on behalf of the State the best economic return on the impaired assets for which it is responsible. However, in the context of the social dimension, there is an expectation that there will be a social dividend from the work in which it is engaged. The witnesses have indicated that NAMA has contributed substantially to ameliorating the position on housing and homelessness. I accept that I raised this matter with Mr. Daly previously at a different forum, but will he indicate if NAMA is in a position to agree to the use of a local labour clause whereby 20% of workers on a project would be locals? Such a clause obtains in the massive DIT development at Grangegorman. Is NAMA in a position to engage with the companies with which it is involved in joint ventures in order to ensure members of local communities will be able to obtain some of the 10,000 construction and 3,000 to 4,000 ancillary jobs that will eventually be created? There is huge potential in this regard in the area under discussion which straddles the River Liffey and is deprived in many ways.