Results 3,001-3,020 of 4,002 for speaker:Rose Conway Walsh

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: I liked the end of Mr. McDonagh's contribution, to the effect that "We're great fellas in NAMA". Mr. Daly said he welcomed the expert-led investigation into the sale of Project Eagle. One of the central questions hanging over Project Eagle was the rush to bundle a large portfolio and sell it off as quickly as possible. He went on to say he did not accept the view that NAMA moved too...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: I appreciate that this is ongoing so I will not expand on the issue any further. NAMA will obviously state that it got the best deals for citizens, whether the assets were sold to vulture funds or somebody else. Has any analysis been done into the follow-on profits that have been made by either the vulture funds or whoever bought the assets? We would then have empirical evidence of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: It comes down to whether one looks at the original €74 billion or the €30 billion to answer the question of whether a profit or loss was made. That is how Irish citizens look at it. There is an obligation on NAMA to work within the overall State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: I appreciate what Mr. Daly is saying but what we are examining is the fact that there were opportunities to bring us closer to the €74 billion overall. I really need to ask-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: I appreciate what Mr. Daly is saying. It is difficult for people when they see the likes of Cerberus making a profit of €77 million and paying €1,900 in tax on that. That is what people are trying to decipher in all this. Obviously, NAMA will say it got the best deal for the State but we have an obligation to question that, analyse it and examine at the figures behind it,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: I need to move on because I am conscious of time. How much pressure did the Minister for Finance put on NAMA to expedite the sale of assets to reduce the debt-GDP ratio?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: When the Minister went to the away-day on 5 February 2014 and there was a private session held without the executive or the secretary present, which I find quite unusual, were these matters not discussed? Why would a private session be held without the executive or the secretary present?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: When reference is made to the Government's key priorities in terms of reducing the debt-GDP ratio, that would have no influence on NAMA's decisions. Is that what Mr. Daly is saying?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: Would Mr. Daly say NAMA was mandated by the then Minister for Finance in 2013 to facilitate the funding and delivery of the 4,500 homes by the end of 2016? Mr. Daly congratulates himself on achieving that. Did NAMA have the capacity to deliver more? Was the request too modest? How was the figure arrived at? Was there a preliminary discussion with the Minister on the 4,500 houses or was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: Would Mr. Daly say NAMA was constrained under the original Act in contributing in the way it might have been able to?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: We made proposals at the time and Deputy Pearse Doherty had a Bill, which was not accepted, proposing that NAMA freeze its sales, carry out an audit and be given a new mandate to maximise its input into the housing output. Would that have been welcomed?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: That is the crux of it. If the constraints had not existed and if the Act could have been changed along to the way to adapt to the changing market conditions and housing demands, could we have got more? That is the big question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: I am looking at the map relating to social housing that the witness has supplied. It shows some 2,378 properties. There are four properties in Sligo and none in Mayo or Leitrim. Why is that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: I want to hear about NAMA's actions and the assets it holds in the regions rather than in the main urban centres. What are its plans?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: Is it the case that the local authority in Mayo did not take up the offer from NAMA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: Does the witness believe that two very distinct economies have emerged, between urban and regional areas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: NAMA has 302 staff at present. The salary costs in 2016 were €37.3 million. How do the witnesses see that panning out in the next 12 months? Will there be voluntary redundancies?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: I doubt that the unemployment rate in Kerry, no more than Mayo, is at 6%. It is more like 36%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: Having looked at the remuneration packages and the other benefits of NAMA, I do not believe that will be an issue for a while. The packages are quite generous.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of Operations and Functioning of NAMA: Discussion (13 Jul 2017)

Rose Conway Walsh: I am obviously in the wrong business.