Stormont committee to meet over NAMA claims made by Wallace in the Dáil
The Northern Assembly's Finance Committee is to meet amid calls for an inquiry into claims a £7m sum had been set aside for a politician in the North.
Independent TD Mick Wallace yesterday told the Dáil that the proceeds of one NAMA loan sale, for properties in the North, had ended up being diverted to an account in the Isle of Man.
He also claimed the sum had been intended to go to a politician in the North.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt said Deputy Wallace should report what he knows to the gardaí and the PSNI.
"I would call on Mr Wallace to report to the garda and the Police Service of Northern Ireland - I think there must also be a role for the Financial Services Authority here in the UK," he said.
"Something appears - and I stress 'appears' - to be not right," he added.
NAMA later issued a statement in relation to the sale in 2014 of the loans of Northern Ireland debtors (Project Eagle).
"In January 2014, NAMA appointed Lazard, a major international investment bank, to advise on and oversee the sales process for Project Eagle, a portfolio which comprised loans with an aggregate par value of £4.5bn and which was secured by assets in Northern Ireland, the Republic, Great Britain and other European locations," the statement read.
"Based on its assessment of the market, Lazard invited nine major global investment groups which had the necessary financial resources to participate and bid in the loan sale process.
"Cerberus Capital Management emerged as the highest and preferred bidder for the portfolio in April 2014. The sale completed on June 20, 2014.
"As is open to any seller of assets or loans, NAMA may adopt any measure that it considers appropriate to safeguard the integrity of its sales processes.
"Prior to confirming Cerberus as its preferred bidder, NAMA sought and received confirmation from Cerberus that no fee was payable by Cerberus to any person connected with NAMA in relation to any aspect of the Project Eagle sales process.
"NAMA is fully satisfied, having taken advice from Lazard, that the process delivered the best possible return that could have been achieved for Irish taxpayers."
