Results 9,761-9,780 of 21,440 for speaker:Mary Lou McDonald

Irish Sign Language Report: Motion (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Minister of State can assist us by repeating that commitment in the Dáil Chamber. That is important for the purposes of this debate. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin made an observation about the official recognition of Irish Sign Language in Northern Ireland in 2004 and the fact that there was an equivalent provision in the Good Friday Agreement that placed on us an...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: I agree with all of that. The letter does a number of things. It resolves the April 2013 issue, to which it refers. It changes the entire narrative of exactly what went on. It is probably the most illuminating piece of correspondence and evidence that has come before us. That is why I believe the Chairman does need to read it into the record. I have a question for the Chairman as...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: We can, but in my view, and it will become clear when the letter is read, we need to do that. We need to specifically ask that Mr. Tuvi Keinan appears before this committee.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: A number of issues arise. First, this letter is a game-changer. It sets out a number of troubling facts but, as troubling as they are, they clarify what were gaps in the sequence of events and our understanding of what happened and why. It now seems that Project Eagle was conceived of not by PIMCO, as NAMA had asserted, but by Brown Rudnick, along with Tughans and Mr. Frank Cushnahan....

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: The suggestion was made by Deputy Cullinane that we need to hear from NAMA legal and also from the board members who were so vociferous and voluminous: Mr. McEnery, Mr.-----

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is his boss who we need to hear.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: It is his senior who we need to hear.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: We cannot compel, but Deputy Madigan makes an absolutely fair point. Perhaps we could gently encourage Mr. Rice at the appropriate time and ask him to present himself. We cannot compel him, but Deputy Madigan's point is fairly made.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Absolutely.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Does the Chairman want to take a break?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: I have a few questions and I will endeavour to be concise. The reaction to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report has been boiled down to his estimation of probable loss in respect of that transaction. I refer to document PAC32-R-167 B, which is from the NAMA audit committee meeting on Thursday, 1 May 2014. We received it yesterday and Mr. McCarthy referred to this earlier. The...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: The public needs to know this. There has been such a hullabaloo. One would swear Mr. McCarthy had made the most outlandish of accusations in citing a probable loss when, in fact, NAMA officials have conceded the point repeatedly at an audit committee meeting. Was that not all a journey up and down hill and vale for nothing? I just wanted to see if he had an explanation for that.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: As a layperson with no accoutring expertise, am I correct that it does not take from the fact that there was an anticipated and a real loss, whatever way it was reflected in accountancy terms?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: I thank Mr. McCarthy. I just wanted to confirm that. We will hear from Department of Finance officials next and we have had sight of a letter that was sent to Mr. Harkness in the Comptroller and Auditor General's office from Ms Ann Nolan. She raised a couple of issues with the Mr. McCarthy and challenged his assertion that NAMA did not seek formal external advice on its sales strategy. She...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: For clarity, because I can see it was not in the letter, Mr. McCarthy is stating that contrary to the evidence given here on 6 October, in fact the discount rate was not raised.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: I welcome the witnesses. Ms Nolan has been before us before. Who wrote the script she delivered? Did she write that herself?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: Does he write the Minister's scripts as well?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: I am struck by the singular style of writing. Ms Nolan has given us a comprehensive overview of the NAMA Act, for which I thank her. Can she give us a word that describes in her mind the role of the Department of Finance in its interaction with NAMA? Is it "watchdog", "overseer" or some other word?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: To whom and for whom does the Department provide that strategic oversight and overview?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (10 Nov 2016)

Mary Lou McDonald: The Department has told us before that it has regular interactions with NAMA.