Results 2,581-2,600 of 27,019 for speaker:Michael Noonan

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: No, I said in a press statement that I was reviewing the request, which I believe was obvious. Then on Tuesday I decided-----

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: There was an issue because I knew I would be creating a precedent but I had no issue in appearing personally.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: As I understand it, and I was Chairman of this committee for several years, the precedent would be that Accounting Officers are responsible to the Committee of Public Accounts, not Ministers. At the start of-----

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: If the Deputy will let me finish. At the start of the normal meetings of the Committee of Public Accounts, the practice in my time was that a statement would be read out informing members that they should not drift in to the area of policy; that was a matter for Ministers. There are very few precedents for Ministers appearing before the Committee of Public Accounts. My intention was...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: It was the issue of precedent. When I became aware of the request to appear, I addressed it on Monday and Tuesday and I confirmed on Tuesday that I would attend.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: No, members can speak for themselves, but I did not brief anybody.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: Of course I accept any report that is a value-for-money report produced by the Comptroller and Auditor General. As I have said, I was Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts. However, it is also evident that there is a conflict in the report between the views of the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, and the views of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: Yes, absolutely.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: One can have confidence in two organisations even when they do not agree on every detail. It is quite apparent to the Deputy, from the report and from the committee's first hearings that there is a conflict on whether best value was got or not. It is up to the committee to resolve the conflict, not me. I cannot resolve the conflict for it-----

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: -----but it does not diminish my confidence in NAMA, which I believe did a great job, or in the Comptroller and Auditor General's office.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: Chairman, the Deputy must let me answer.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: I know but I will stay as long as the committee wants me to stay-----

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: -----but the Deputy cannot cut me off when I am giving him an answer that is explaining my position.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: I have full confidence in the Comptroller and Auditor General's office. When I was Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, I worked closely to the former Comptroller and Auditor General, John Purcell. I would not personally know the personnel in the Comptroller and Auditor General's office now or the current Comptroller and Auditor General but I have absolute confidence in them that...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: I think the Chairman has called my officials before the committee for a future date and they will answer for themselves.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: Deputy, with respect, anyone reading the report would see that there was property expertise which the Comptroller and Auditor General intended putting in place but I understand he failed to fill the vacancy in a competition. I am not saying there is any lack of expertise in the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General but it seemed to be his intention to acquire outside expertise to...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: I thank the Chairman for that explanation.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: No. Under the normal rules and procedures of the Committee of Public Accounts, it is the Accounting Officer who is amenable to this committee. When the Accounting Officer and officials are before the Committee of Public Accounts, they speak for themselves.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (6 Oct 2016)

Michael Noonan: Does Ms Ann Nolan wish to address the matter?