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02/10/2015
First Minister To Give Evidence Over Nama Deal
First Minister Peter Robinson has confirmed he will appear before the Finance committee over the sale of the Nama portfolio in Northern Ireland.
In a letter to committee chair Daithí McKay he said he is willing to give oral evidence on 14 October.
Loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson alleged that £7 million was lodged in a bank account in the Isle of Man and was earmarked for Mr Robinson and four other people.
Mr Robinson said the claims were "scurrilous and unfounded".
Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, who also sits on the Finance committee, has also called on former Finance Minister Simon Hamilton to appear before the committee.
Mr Ó Muilleoir said: "I welcome Simon Hamilton breaking his silence on the issue of the sale of NAMA's northern loan portfolio.
"Hopefully this signals a willingness to help shed light on an important issue of public interest.
"There is a paper trail, which shows clearly that the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness was excluded from a number of meetings on the sale of NAMA's northern portfolio.
"There is also a so-called Memorandum of Understanding, which was sent to the Finance Minister in Dublin, which wasn't agreed or consented to by Martin McGuinness or brought before the Executive.
"Martin McGuinness appeared before the Finance Committee last week and referenced the conference call to Michael Noonan.
"Martin McGuinness has also agreed to appear before the Public Accounts Committee in Dublin.
"DUP Finance Ministers Simon Hamilton and Sammy Wilson have yet to agree to go in front of the committees to detail their meetings with Irish government ministers or detail any contact with PIMCO or Cerberus.
"We now know that PIMCO's bid included a £15 million fixers fee, and the Cerberus bid led to £7.5 million being lodged in a bank account in the Isle of Man.
"Simon Hamilton would have more credibility on the issue if he would agree to appear before the Assembly’s Finance Committee's inquiry into the events leading up to the sale as Martin McGuinness has done and as his own party leader has agreed to do."
(CD)
In a letter to committee chair Daithí McKay he said he is willing to give oral evidence on 14 October.
Loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson alleged that £7 million was lodged in a bank account in the Isle of Man and was earmarked for Mr Robinson and four other people.
Mr Robinson said the claims were "scurrilous and unfounded".
Sinn Féin MLA Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, who also sits on the Finance committee, has also called on former Finance Minister Simon Hamilton to appear before the committee.
Mr Ó Muilleoir said: "I welcome Simon Hamilton breaking his silence on the issue of the sale of NAMA's northern loan portfolio.
"Hopefully this signals a willingness to help shed light on an important issue of public interest.
"There is a paper trail, which shows clearly that the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness was excluded from a number of meetings on the sale of NAMA's northern portfolio.
"There is also a so-called Memorandum of Understanding, which was sent to the Finance Minister in Dublin, which wasn't agreed or consented to by Martin McGuinness or brought before the Executive.
"Martin McGuinness appeared before the Finance Committee last week and referenced the conference call to Michael Noonan.
"Martin McGuinness has also agreed to appear before the Public Accounts Committee in Dublin.
"DUP Finance Ministers Simon Hamilton and Sammy Wilson have yet to agree to go in front of the committees to detail their meetings with Irish government ministers or detail any contact with PIMCO or Cerberus.
"We now know that PIMCO's bid included a £15 million fixers fee, and the Cerberus bid led to £7.5 million being lodged in a bank account in the Isle of Man.
"Simon Hamilton would have more credibility on the issue if he would agree to appear before the Assembly’s Finance Committee's inquiry into the events leading up to the sale as Martin McGuinness has done and as his own party leader has agreed to do."
(CD)
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