Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is interesting because he had a number of people from the Department of Finance here with him on that day as well. The second secretary was with him who is coming back in before us. They say they have regular contact. Did they convey anything to Mr. Soffe? Some might say it is not political pressure because it comes from the officials. What is interesting is that, on the day, I think it was Ann Nolan who said there was no other deal on the table. This was the Department of Finance talking. They were very good cheerleaders for the stance NAMA took because they were fully behind it on that day.

I will ask Mr. Soffe again. Were the Department of Finance senior officials saying to get this done as quickly as possible? Mr. Soffe said to me that the Act refers to dealing with assets expeditiously. How expeditiously and at what cost is the kernel of the issue.