merrion street

Minister Donohoe speaking at Government Buildings earlier

The Government has considered the C&AG report on the sale of Project Eagle in detail at its meeting today.

The C&AG report was conducted in accordance with the constitutional and statutory duties of the C&AG.

The Minister for Finance has authorised the C&AG to publish the report and to lay it before the Houses of the Oireachtas today.

The Government has also noted the letter from the Chairman of NAMA regarding the C&AG report.

The C&AG’s report raises a number of important issues which the Government acknowledges will require further investigation.

The Public Accounts Committee is an appropriate forum for consideration of the C&AG report and for the exercise of public accountability in these matters. The Government expects that the PAC will wish to convene a public hearing at an early date. It would welcome such a public hearing and will offer any support that the PAC needs in the conduct of its inquiries.

The Government also recognises that it has its own responsibilities to ensure that all matters of public concern with regard to the functions of an important public body such as NAMA are fully addressed.

It has therefore decided that the Taoiseach will invite Opposition party leaders to meet him tomorrow with a view to seeking agreement on the issues of public concern that require further investigation and the most appropriate nature and terms of reference for such an investigation. Subject to the outcome of those discussions, the matter will then be the subject of a Dáil debate early in the new session.

The Government’s objective is to ensure that all matters of public concern are addressed in a speedy and effective manner.