Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will follow on from the query on financing. The Minister of State gave some details which seemed to contradict some of the information in the public domain. I ask the Minister of State why NBI's investors were permitted to fund the company through high-cost loans on which they will earn significant interest, instead of through the purchase of shares. It is reported that there was a €223 million investors' contribution and that it would be made by way of equity investment. In fact, it is reported that it was almost exclusively debt; some €221 million of debt. Those are the figures in the public domain. I ask the Minister of State whether they are accurate and what is the current state of affairs.

See this speech in context