Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have an answer for Senator Healy Eames. I apologise. I had written NAMA as shorthand. Senator Healy Eames raised the other issue, in fact, of NAMA and the Northern Ireland sales. As the Senator will be aware, officials from NAMA appeared before the Committee of Public Accounts to answer further questions of Members of the Oireachtas. The committee has been very much on top of this issue. As anyone who is interested in this matter did, the Senator will have seen the opinion article by Frank Daly of NAMA in The Irish Timesreferring to the committee hearings. In summary, NAMA outlined the sales process to the committee and stated that the sales process was conducted in line with international best practice, that the integrity of the process was fully protected and that all bidders had equal access to information. Anyone can read the transcript. NAMA has also committed to responding to any written questions the Northern Ireland Committee for Finance and Personnel may have regarding the sale which were not covered during the appearances before the Committee of Public Accounts. On 4 September, NAMA responded in detail to the committee's questions. Those full responses, which I am told come to more than 300 pages, although I have not looked at them myself, are available on the NAMA website. They were also provided to the Committee of Public Accounts. Those with an interest in the matter may wish to read that material. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, has also received a request from the Northern Ireland committee for any documents relevant to its investigation and Department of Finance officials are currently working on this request. There is a good deal of work under way on investigating the claims and allegations, which remain allegations.

Senator Brennan spoke on the issue of sporting grants, which I have addressed and which we all welcome. Senator White spoke on the daft.iereport and inheritance tax. I thank Senator White for informing us that she presented her proposal and her petition on this issue to the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan. As I stated last week, it is important that colleagues who have constructive proposals for the Minister to consider in the context of the budget to submit them well in advance. I did that with the bike to school scheme. Earlier this year I suggested tax incentives for the purchase of bicycles for school children to cycle to school. I submitted those proposals to the Minister. It is worthwhile for any colleague with views on the budget to present proposals to him. We will await developments on Senator White's proposal.

Senator Mullins suggested adjustments would be made in the budget. I do not know but we can wait and see on Tuesday.