Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin has hit out at the continued silence from the Taoiseach on claims that he was warned about irregularities with the sale of the Project Eagle loanbook in February 2014. Media reports have suggested that Fortress Investment Group, one of the unsuccessful bidders in the process, wrote to the Taoiseach to raise concerns about how the process was being handled. Deputy Martin asked the Taoiseach at Leaders’ Questions to confirm or deny whether such correspondence had been received. 48 hours later, the Taoiseach has still not provided that clarity.
Deputy Martin commented, “This is an exceptionally serious matter. If the claim that he was sent a letter some 18 months ago warning about the irregularities that are now convulsing NAMA are correct, we need to know that and we need to know what action he took.
“The Taoiseach’s continued silence is not sustainable. The only message emerging from his Department is that his officials are looking for correspondence and cannot give a definitive answer on whether or not they received it. As each hour passes, this position becomes increasingly untenable.
“Either the Taoiseach received this correspondence or he did not. 48 hours after his promise to confirm and publish any correspondence, we again call on him to make a statement on the matter.”