Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the professor for being here. In connection with the National Asset Management Agency, Professor Connor co-authored with Thomas Flavin and Brian O'Kelly "The US and Irish Credit Crises: Their Distinctive Differences and Common Features in 2010". He stated there that the Irish Government set up the National Asset Management Agency with the explicit goal of overpaying for banks' distressed assets in order to keep privately-owned equity capital in the banks from collapsing in value. Can he discuss that in a little more detail? What is his opinion of how the Government used NAMA to take over distressed assets in Ireland and does he consider that a more optimal approach could have been taken?