Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

All accusations are allegations until proven. That is a distraction. These are allegations and I have been very careful to couch them in that way. The Taoiseach speaks of rumours. I have not put any rumours to him. It is very precise. A member of NAMA’s advisory board is alleged to have been guilty of malpractice and possible criminal offences, aided and abetted by a senior officer with NAMA. Why will the Taoiseach not set up such an investigation when called upon to do so? NAMA is an arm of the State. It is not the Taoiseach’s money and it is not my money; it is the people’s money. NAMA should be accountable and the Government should be transparent, open and accountable as well.

We have never been given an explanation for the failure by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, to intervene to suspend the sales process when he was informed that a fixer’s fee of £15 million was requested. That is very straight and direct. I am giving the Taoiseach the substance of these allegations. We are concerned that taxpayers are not getting full value. This includes the tens of thousands of families struggling to pay mortgages. The money the Government is not putting into health services could have gone into these other people’s pockets and bank accounts. The homeless and the citizens lying on hospital trolleys are the victims of this type of behaviour. Will the Taoiseach commit to the establishment of a commission of investigation into the sale of Project Eagle? The Taoiseach should not fob me off by saying it is happening in another jurisdiction. This is a national issue. NAMA’s Northern portfolio is a national asset belonging to the people of this State.

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