Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am listening to everything that is being said and my observation is there is an interesting theme running through the response, not on NAMA but on several other issues. The sponsoring Department had to be aware of this from its ongoing contact with NAMA. It is impossible that the Department was not aware of this. I do not blame NAMA but it was impossible for the Department not to have been acutely aware of this issue all along. The Comptroller and Auditor General highlighted it in his report, NAMA's legal advice is clear and the legal advice in the Oireachtas is clear. The Department must have understood the position for years; it is the Department that should have spotted this. We will see it three or four more times, where the issues we have highlighted are essentially deficiencies in the legislation that the various Departments should have dealt with. We have had a good discussion and will note the response.

The next recommendation is the final one in relation to NAMA.