Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

We had a good discussion about this last night. I am against both of these amendments. In respect of amendment No. 8, the local authorities will be first in the queue for any housing around the country. This amendment would undermine NAMA's ability to give the ultimate social dividend, to get the country moving again in order that we can have resources for sports capital or youth café programmes and the kind of infrastructure we require.

I have no doubt that, under the workings of NAMA, the Minister could suggest to the board that if any properties in its control are lying idle it could take a nominal rent for them. NAMA must get the maximum value it can, whether through rent or sales, otherwise the process will be undermined. Maybe at some stage the Minister could ring-fence prospective NAMA profits for a sports capital programme or other such infrastructural projects.