Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important that I appreciate the independence, objectivity and transparency of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. I am sure Deputy does as well. They are in there with NAMA as these transactions go through. The Comptroller and Auditor General as part of a special report on NAMA's progress from 2010 to 2012, following a review of NAMA disposals with a gross proceeds value of €1 billion, stated the evidence was that almost all property disposals had been sold through an open competitive process or with testing of disposal prices against market valuation and provided assurance that prices obtained were the best on offer in the market at the time a property was sold. For instance, No. 1 Warrington Place was sold following an open market competitive sale process. It attracted substantial investor interest. The property was advertised over an eight week period and there were 40 site inspections, 19 credible first round bids, eight parties invited to submit final bids on the basis of the strength of their first round bids and the asset was ultimately sold to the highest bidder after another bidder at the same price withdrew. This purchase was by a global investment fund, marking only a second ever acquisition in Europe. At the time it was the first sale of a major commercial building in Dublin for more than five years time. International investor interest generated by the sale stayed in the Irish market and has contributed to the recovery which has been evident since.

I suggest to the Deputy that because of all of the interest being raised by Deputies from all sides of the House on matters relevant to NAMA, a particular facility was established for Members of the Oireachtas at oir@nama.ie-----

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