Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The only other question I have concerns Peter Robinson. I appreciate the difficulties he has. I think it is unfortunate that he has not submitted to the Committee of Public Accounts purely to put his point across.

We want to hear from him. We have invited him to attend the committee. I accept he claims he did not get the invitation but he is certainly aware of it now. There will be no grilling down here. We are not a courtroom. All we want is information.

Mr. McGuinness and others have made assertions about the knowledge the former First Minister's office had on this process. It would be useful for him to attend to answer questions or at least make a full statement on the matter. As I said, I have a difficulty with the unwillingness of the former First Minister to attend on the basis that it is transpiring here in Dublin. To me, this just does not stack up because we are talking about Northern Irish taxpayers as well. For many years, they were at the core of his operation as a politician. I am sure Mr. McGuinness will agree.

As deputy First Minister for many years, will Mr. McGuinness convey to Arlene Foster and other members of the DUP the importance of Mr. Peter Robinson attending this committee? I know we would facilitate him and that the Chairman would engage directly if some positive inclination to attend would come forward. Will Mr. McGuinness do that please?

In his opening statement, Mr. McGuinness suggested a lot of money was lost to the taxpayer here. This may or may not be the case. He said we all look at this with the benefit of hindsight. However, when one does it through financial eyes, one sees it is highly likely that a significant sum of money would have been lost over and above that which was lost when this portfolio was sold. In his office's dealings with NAMA, its Northern Ireland advisory committee and other individuals, Mr. McGuinness expressed a preference previously for a certain purchaser of the portfolio, which unfortunately fell through. Without putting him on the spot, how would he have done it differently, in the sense of the transaction having a greater benefit to Northern Ireland taxpayers, over and above the deal that was done?