Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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Earlier, I asked the Comptroller and Auditor General a question regarding the role of his office in the day-to-day workings of NAMA because the impression was created during some earlier hearings, and explicitly again this morning, that the Comptroller and Auditor General had a large team in NAMA examining its every transaction. It is this "impression" I would like to focus on. In response to questions on this particular issue in the Dáil, the impression was given that the public could be assured about the workings of NAMA on the basis that the Comptroller and Auditor General's office had a strong remit in that regard. However, that remit was very different to the reality. The purpose of this value for money exercise is to examine this particular project. That impression was created by the Department and the Minister. For example, we know when the Department became aware of the information in relation to Project Eagle, PIMCO and the fixer's fees. After this was known by the Department, it was raised in the Dáil. I recall Deputy Mick Wallace being told that if he had concerns, he should raise them with the Garda Síochána. Ms Nolan or any of the other witnesses can correct me if I am wrong but given that the Department appears to have known that there was an issue about fixer's fees, do they think the Department's approach has done little in terms of building confidence in the oversight that it would have of even a strategic approach of NAMA?