Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Please, Mr. Daly. It seems to me that NAMA wanted to shape the debate on the price alone so that we would be fighting over figures and who said what as opposed to the substantial statement of facts in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report. Today was the first time that NAMA addressed a conflict of interest in its reports. I have the documents before me. Prior to this, NAMA simply addressed the issue surrounding the money and the difference in value.

I am asking the witnesses a number of questions about the sales process. NAMA has repeatedly pointed out that there were nine bidders or more and that the process was open to all nine. I will set out my understanding, which is at variance with that. It was a limited, focused, time-based sales process, Lazard was employed with limited instructions and it asked for three bidders in its initial attempt. Is that correct?