Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Following the publication of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, the Taoiseach met party leaders in September 2016 and received submissions from them on the issue. At a subsequent meeting with party leaders in October, there was agreement in principle to establish a commission of investigation. That remains the Government's position. It is the Government's policy to establish a commission of investigation.

Since then, the Committee of Public Accounts has undertaken extensive hearings and has received extensive verbal and documentary evidence from NAMA, the Department of Finance, many of the companies involved in the Project Eagle bidding process and me. The committee has published a detailed report which has been discussed in the Dáil. It documents the committee's support for a commission of investigation.

Before the Government makes a decision on how to proceed, it will be important to receive and discuss proposed terms of reference for such a commission of investigation from those parties interested in its establishment. I expect each party, through its respective leader, to contribute to the drafting of agreed terms of reference.

See this speech in context