Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not quite sure what point the Deputy is putting to me but I would refer him to the minutes of the phone call, which read as follows:

At that meeting First Minister Robinson expressed the importance of any sales process to the Northern Ireland economy and in particular the impact on Northern Ireland of an acquirer's asset management development and general strategy, post-acquisition.

I am quoting that to show that there was concern at Northern Ireland Executive level about what the impaired assets in Northern Ireland and their disposal might mean in terms of any potential influence on the Northern Ireland economy.

The minutes go on:

The Minister [that is me] confirmed that NAMA would be a willing seller of its Northern Ireland assets at an appropriate price, having undertaken an appropriate sales process.

That is back-referencing what I told the Deputy just a minute ago.

The minutes go on to say that I explained that NAMA avoids bilateral sales processes. Such a process was suggested by Mr. Sammy Wilson MLA previously to me, by way of a letter. The minutes go on to say that bilateral sales processes have not been conducive to achieving best value, which is one of NAMA's primary objectives-----