NAMA commission of investigation
David Cullinane sought a clear commitment to establish a commission of investigation into NAMA and questioned the Minister for Finance’s conduct. The Taoiseach said he had already decided in principle to hold a commission, had received letters requesting further talks, and would meet the parties involved.
That is very unfair of the Taoiseach. He has made no attempt whatsoever to answer the question he was asked.
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We will not say anything about their luck last Sunday. I call Deputy David Cullinane.
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I have asked the Taoiseach on three occasions to confirm that there will be a commission of investigation into NAMA. On two of those occasions, he stated that he would await the publication of the report of the Committee of Public Accounts. It has been published. On the last occasion, he stated that he would wait until statements were heard in the Dáil. Statements were heard in the Dáil. The Taoiseach has run out of excuses. I now want to hear a clear and emphatic response from the Taoiseach that he will set up such a commission. While the Taoiseach is on his feet, will he also inform the Dáil when the Minister for Finance will come back to the House and use the opportunity to retract comments he made about members of the Committee of Public Accounts-----
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-----and to deal with the threat which he apparently made to the Chairman of the committee that he would injunct a constitutional committee on the matter?
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Will the Taoiseach confirm first of all that there will be a committee of investigation?
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Will he also confirm that the Minister for Finance will apologise to all the members of the Committee of Public Accounts for his conduct?
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Deputy, please. There are other Members. I have been very lenient. This is on promised legislation, if the Taoiseach wishes to respond.
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I received a letter from Deputy Micheál Martin and Deputy Gerry Adams to meet further about the decision in principle that we took to hold a commission of investigation into NAMA. I intend to honour those letters and have that meeting. I have pointed out that such a commission would be limited by jurisdiction and by virtue of some legal impediments, perhaps, to having all of the correspondence and paperwork it might wish to have. I have received two requests for meetings and I intend to honour them.