Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have a very quick question about NAMA. My understanding was that NAMA had a 57% write-down on the debts that were transferred to it and on the impaired assets. When officials from NAMA came before the committee, their statement was that they expect to make a profit or at least to break even. NAMA has also said it intends to complete its transactions more quickly than the allocated time in the legislation. I think they expect to do it by 2018 instead of 2020. With the recovery in the market and comparing what the sale of certain assets was a couple of years ago to what is happening now, would it be better for NAMA to delay and go the full term that is allocated under legislation? What is the officials' advice to NAMA? The very recovery that is taking place is raising the value of the assets they have, which were previously impaired. Instead of shortening the time, perhaps we should be thinking of lengthening it. That might provide a better return.