Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have dealt with this before with Deputy Adams and a number of other Deputies. On the question of value for money, we fully support the ongoing examination by the Comptroller and Auditor General into the disposal by NAMA of the loans of Northern Ireland debtors. The Comptroller and Auditor General, as Deputy Adams is aware, is best positioned to independently review the transaction in this jurisdiction. The Comptroller and Auditor General is required by law under section 226 of the NAMA Act to produce a report every three years assessing the extent to which NAMA has made progress towards achieving its overall targets. NAMA and the Comptroller and Auditor General appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts on 9 July 2015. At that appearance, the Comptroller and Auditor General indicated that his next section 226 report required under law would look in detail at a sample of NAMA disposals and a sample of properties held by it for investment and, furthermore, that a specific review of Project Eagle under section 9 of the Comptroller and Auditor General Act would be undertaken. I am quite sure Deputy Adams supports the integrity and credibility of the Comptroller and Auditor General. That report into Project Eagle, as I understand it, is practically completed. It will be debated by the Committee of Public Accounts, which is the accountable body in respect of NAMA. The Comptroller and Auditor General and the Committee of Public Accounts both hold NAMA accountable here. The Comptroller and Auditor General has indicated that he intends to issue a report under section 11 of the Comptroller and Auditor General Act following this review of Project Eagle. This is consistent entirely with the law and with his powers of investigation to scrutinise and report on operations or regarding any aspect of NAMA's work that may arise through its annual audits or special reports about any aspect of NAMA's work. Mr. Daly was doing his duty of seeing that everything was above board in respect of the law and his responsibilities. The Department of Finance and NAMA have received a draft of the report and are providing comment to the Comptroller and Auditor General on that draft report. Officials of the Comptroller and Auditor General have also confirmed that, given their independent role, any queries related to the timing, content or any other specific aspects of their reports should be directed to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General in the first instance. I am informed by NAMA, as I said before, that the loan portfolio in question was sold following an open process to the highest bidder for what it was worth. On the question about allegations made against certain individuals in Northern Ireland, NAMA paid no moneys to any party on this loan sale against whom allegations of wrongdoing are now being made. As I said previously, anyone with any evidence of wrongdoing needs to immediately report it to the relevant authorities. I am aware that two individuals were held for questioning as part of the UK National Crime Agency's investigation into the sale of Northern Ireland assets owned by NAMA. I am advised also that the NCA has confirmed to NAMA that no aspect of the agency's activities is under investigation.

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