NAMA’s ‘Project Eagle’ to be raised at PAC

PAC chairman, John McGuinness said it was “frustrating” and “works against all principles of good accountability” that the documents were released at such a late stage ahead of the appearance of NAMA officials before the committee on Thursday.

“The release of documentation like this before the meeting today is nothing short of interfering with the work of the committee”, said Mr McGuinness.

Deputy Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the release of 41 documents last night by finance was “telling”, especially as Mr Noonan was “refusing” to cooperate with an inquiry in the North into Project Eagle and the property sales.

Today’s session is due to hear about the €1.6 billion sale of Nama’s Northern Ireland property loan book, “Project Eagle”, from the agency’s top executives.

Mr McGuinness said last week that it was “absolutely misleading” for the DUP to suggest he was fully informed and engaged with a bid from one prospective U.S. buyer, Pimco.

In a statement, Sinn Féin said the conference call was a matter of public record which Mr McGuinness highlighted in his evidence last week to Stormont’s Finance Committee.

The minutes of the telephone conversation show a letter of intent provided by investment company Pimco was discussed during the call.

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly Finance Committee are also expected to attend the hearing.

Mr McGuinness has said he was not aware of the Pimco letter Nama received in January 2014.

Peter Robinson will confirm by close of business on Thursday whether he will appear before a Stormont Finance Committee examining the sale of the NAMA portfolio in the North, the committee’s chairman, Daithí McKay, has said.

“If that’s meant to intimidate us it doesn’t”, he added.

He repeated that members of the NI Advisory Committee had no access to confidential NAMA information.

THE DECISION OF Michael Noonan to provide hundreds of pages of documents to the Public Accounts Committee the night before today’s meeting on Nama has been described as a “manoeuvre” by opposition politicians.