Mr. Brendan McDonagh:

I absolutely agree with the Deputy. In that context, section 202 of the NAMA Act is very clear on the lifelong obligation on one not disclosing information obtained while employed in NAMA. It is a criminal offence to use the information elsewhere.

Under the contracts of employment, the NTMA employs the staff and they are bound by the Official Secrets Act. The issue of information is one we take very seriously. The best defence to anybody having information is to open-market the assets so that nobody gets an advantage just because he or she worked at one time for NAMA but is now in the market bidding for assets for someone else.