News

Stormont calls for anyone with Nama information to come forward

An emergency meeting of the Stormont finance committee is due to take place
An emergency meeting of the Stormont finance committee is due to take place An emergency meeting of the Stormont finance committee is due to take place

POLITICIANS on both sides of the border are set to hold meetings to examine allegations surrounding the Nama property portfolio deal in Northern Ireland.

An emergency meeting of the Stormont finance committee will be held today following the claims by independent TD Mick Wallace.

And in the Republic Nama officials have been invited to appear before the public accounts committee on Thursday.

It comes after Mr Wallace claimed in the Dáil last Thursday that a £7m offshore fund had been earmarked for a Northern Ireland politician.

Stormont finance committee chair, Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay, yesterday called on anyone with information on the allegations in Leinster House to come forward.

Mr McKay said that along with Nama officials and others, he would hope to see DUP First Minister Peter Robinson appearing before the committee.

It came after Mr Robinson revealed to The Irish News that he met top US investment firm Pimco when it considered buying the Nama portfolio.

The firm but did not proceed with a deal after expressing concerns with Nama over proposed fee arrangements with its former adviser Frank Cushnahan.

Last week Mr Robinson said: "I can unequivocally, and without reservation, confirm that.. I have not received, nor was I ever to receive any proceeds from Cerberus, Tughans, or anyone else in relation to the Nama sale."

Renua TD Lucinda Creighton yesterday said that taxpayers are entitled to full and immediate public disclosure from Nama on the controversy.

She also called on the south's finance minister Micheal Noonan to "immediately, directly and publicly intervene to resolve the escalating crisis of confidence in Nama".