Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to clarify what I said about the personnel from the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. I think I said they served on the board of NAMA, but that is not true. They are part of the NAMA company from the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General but not board members.

The Deputy asked about what she called the "kickback". When the compliance section of Pimco brought to the attention of the Minister for Finance the fact that there was a proposed reference to a fee in the documentation, an end was put to Pimco's involvement forthwith. The sale was not pulled because there were other potential buyers interested in the loan portfolio in Northern Ireland. I do not have details of for whom Tughans acted.

The Deputy also asked about a former board member, but the legislation regarding NAMA allows for recommendations to be made of people who might be able to serve on the board. I understand a number of names were put forward as recommendations.

The Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, Deputy John McGuinness, has every right to recall personnel from NAMA to ask them further questions on any new information which comes to light. I have heard no accusation or allegation being made against anybody down here or against NAMA. As I confirmed in my reply to Deputy Micheál Martin, no payments were made by NAMA to the people referred to. I am quite sure the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts will reflect on any new information that has been brought to light and call back the personnel from NAMA to find out the answers to the questions raised by the Deputy.

As I said to Deputy Micheál Martin, commissions of investigation operate only within this jurisdiction. The crime agency in the United Kingdom which has a different remit is investigating allegations of corruption. Some of the points raised by the Deputy will doubtless be the focus of its attention.

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