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Independent TD Peter Mathews

TD ejected from the Dail after raising plight of jailed Irish teen Ibrahim Halawa (Independent.ie)

Laura Hutton/Rollingnews.ie

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“The amount of people that are being killed today by military hardware has just gone off the Richter scale. The five biggest producers of arms, or exporters of arms, in the last five years were the US, Russia, China, Germany and France. And sadly, you have to ask yourself, if you look and ask how many repressive autocratic regimes in this region that France has not sold arms to, it’s a difficult question.”

“Because they have sold to Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Pakistan.”

“Well, my niece said to me, on Saturday morning, that, for the first time in her life, she got an idea of what it must be like to live in the Middle East because it happens on a regular basis, what happened in Paris. Can you imagine it? That you couldn’t go to a concert, or a restaurant or a bar but you might be afraid to be killed. And this is what these people are facing all the time.”

“And last year, we gave permits for 190 metric tonnes of bullets to go to Afghanistan. Now, I don’t imagine that they did much good, in terms of peace. 2.5million troops have gone through Shannon since 2001, huge amounts of military armoury have gone through Shannon since 2001, and huge amounts have been overflown. And we are OK with that.”

“As long as the arms industry, and the shares have gone up 4% on average in the last three days in the arms industry, it’s a good weekend for them. Because it looks like there’s going to be even more arms used.

“President Hollande said, we are going to lead a war which will be pitiless. But they’re already bombing ISIS and others. They’re giving guns and arms to Saudi Arabia, who are giving them to ISIS, as are the United Arab Emirates, they give arms and guns to anyone that will fight Assad. Western countries are arming both sides.”

“We have created ISIS but we’re not going to defeat the military of ISIS. Only Iraq and Syria will actually eventually defeat ISIS. They want France to react in a strong military fashion. That’s what they want. They don’t want us to take a peaceful position on it and to stop militarising the area. They don’t want us to take a rational position on it. We are feeding them with this whole militarisation of the region.”

Independent TD Mick Wallace in the Dáil earlier this evening.

Related: Extent of Shannon and Ireland’s Complicity in War Revealed (Shannonwatch)

Thanks Oireachtas Retort

Didn’t see that coming.

Said person without internet.

Earlier: Unintended Consequences

Contre Nous De La Tyrannie

Meanwhile…

 

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Previously: Creatures Of The State

Set Up To Fail

Watch the proceedings live here

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfbJW6s97-0

Independent TD Mick Wallace

Independent TD Mick Wallace once again raised the sale of Project Eagle by Nama during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil earlier.

And, once again, he called for a Commission of Investigation into the sale.

Mick Wallace: “If they needed any more proof of the need for a commission of inquiry into the workings of NAMA, Members got it at the meeting of the Committee of Public Accounts last Thursday. Deputy McDonald challenged NAMA about redactions in its responses to questions from the Northern Ireland inquiry and in particular, details of Frank Cushnahan’s conflict of interest declaration to the agency. NAMA’s representatives told the Deputy they could not give them to her and were not even obliged to so do. Answers will not be forthcoming without a commission of inquiry. There have been a great number of questions but there have been absolutely no answers and I still am not convinced the Government wants the answers. Members still do not know why NAMA allowed the Project Eagle process to continue despite the involvement of Tughans and Brown Rudnick, which had been involved in the Pimco deal. Members still do not understand how NAMA could possibly tolerate the idea of selling Project Arrow to Cerberus, which is under criminal investigation in America and Britain. How in God’s name can this be the case…”

Peter Mathews: “Hear, hear.”

Wallace: “…apart from the fact it makes no sense to sell Project Arrow in any event, given that 50% of it is residential and the country faces a housing crisis? It has a par value of more than €6 billion and yet NAMA looks to sell it for less than €1 billion. This simply does not make sense and the process should be stopped. If Cerberus is found guilty, what happens with Project Eagle? Will it be null and void? Will the entire process be undone? When Pimco’s potential criminal violation was found, did NAMA seek US legal advice? When NAMA found out, did it approach the Garda under section 19 of the Criminal Justice Act?”

Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett: “A question please, thank you.”

Wallace: “If it did, when did NAMA so do? Did Lazard express views regarding the continued involvement of Brown Rudnick and Tughans or was it satisfied in this regard? Does the Taoiseach have a problem with the fact that Lazard, which ran the process for NAMA, also was involved with the bank that gave the money to Cerberus to buy it? Does the Taoiseach have a problem with that?”

Finian McGrath: “No problems.”

Enda Kenny: “I already have answered questions on this matter in the House, as has the Minister for Finance. The Deputy is aware two investigations are under way in this regard. He is aware of the interest from the United States. The Deputy has made or has been given information that he has brought to the House and he has gone to the Garda, on which I commend him. However, Deputy Wallace also is aware NAMA is responsible, through the Committee of Public Accounts to this House and the Oireachtas. I understand the Deputy has declined to give witness evidence to the aforementioned committee but he should do so. He has information or has been given information: somebody is supplying him with information, which is fair enough. He has used some of that in giving it to the authorities. However, he is making highly specific allegations here and I suggest he should accept an invitation from the Committee of Public Accounts to appear as a witness and give his evidence to the body through which NAMA is accountable to the Oireachtas and have justified the claims he has made or otherwise. I cannot speculate on a court hearing or hearings that are taking place in regard to Cerberus or any other company as to what the outcome of that might be.”

Later

Kenny: “I suggest to Deputy Wallace that while we can continue this kind of dialogue here on a weekly basis, he has been given or supplied with information and evidence…”

Mathews: “Which the Deputy has given to the Taoiseach.”

Kenny: “I suggest he take that information himself…as a witness before the Committee of Public Accounts…where NAMA can reply to the Deputy in the committee… That is what Deputy Wallace should do… Deputy Wallace can deal with the Chairman, Deputy McGuinness, and ascertain whether his allegations or evidence stands up…That is what Deputy Wallace should do… and the Deputy might well serve the national interest in a major way because whoever is giving him his piece of information, he should then test them as to whether they stand up.”

Clare Daly: “Is the Taoiseach going to allow Project Arrow?”

Barrett: “Deputy Wallace.”

Wallace: “I have been to the Garda and to the National Crime Agency. I have come into the House and put stuff before the Taoiseach who is ignoring it. What is he going to do about it? He is the leader of this country and he is ignoring serious questions and serious problems I am raising. Why does the Taoiseach not wish to do something about it?

Barrett: “Will the Deputy put his supplementary question? Thank you.”

Wallace: “At this stage, there is a strong belief that Cerberus was earmarked to get this project hail, rain or snow; that the whole thing was fixed up in order that it would get it. NAMA is involved in that and the agency cannot distance itself. The sales process is not much better then the purchase process.

Barrett: “Sorry, please put your question, thank you.”

Mick Wallace: “Are you satisfied that there was no collaboration with Cerebeus by a Nama insider, based in Dublin? Because I’m not. And you, if you want the answer, don’t bother your barney asking Nama for the answer because they’re not going to give it to you, no more than they’re not giving answers to the PAC. The PAC members themselves admitted last week that they do not have the authority or power to hold Nama to account. A Commission of Inquiry is the only way that you are going to get the answers we need. The Irish people have not been served well by Nama. It stinks to high heaven and you are involved in the cover-up because you refuse to do anything about it.”

Later

Enda Kenny: “You make the point that the Cerebus was earmarked for this project. You make the point that this was all fixed up, you make the point that somebody based here in Dublin was got at. Now, I think Deputy Wallace, these are pretty serious allegations. You make the point, ah yes, Taoiseach I’m involved in some kind of cover-up here and this is a situation that can only be resolved by a Commission of Investigation. Now, you’ve been to the guards, you’ve been to other authorities, I suggest to you now that you elaborate on the information you’ve given here and the allegation that you make in front of the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.”

Meanwhile…

Full transcript to follow.

Oireachtas.ie

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From top: Mary Boyle, and Taoiseach Enda Kenny in the Dáil this evening

In the last hour, Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald raised the case of Mary Boyle in the Dáil.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil he passed on certain information about the case to gardaí.

Mary Lou McDonald: “Ann, the twin sister of Mary Boyle, a six-year-old girl who disappeared close to her grandparents’ home in Donegal in 1977, Ann firmly believes that there was both political interference and a garda cover-up in Mary’s case. Taoiseach would you be willing to meet with Mary’s sister Ann to listen to her concerns regarding the Garda handling of the case.”

Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett: “That’s not really a matter for the Order of Business now but if the Taoiseach wishes… There are things that are allowed in the Order of Business and things that are not.”

Enda Kenny: “The Garda Bill is before the committee tomorrow. I’m aware of the case, of Mary Boyle. It’s many years ago now. I’ve had some contact about this, quite a number of years ago, which I brought to the attention of the gardaí and I can’t say whether they, the allegation was followed up or not but I brought it to the attention of the gardaí. It’s quite a number of years ago, deputy. I don’t have any objection to meeting, when I get a chance, with Mary’s sister, I’d be happy to do that. But clearly, the operational matters for the gardaí, on a day-to-day basis, are a matter for the Commissioner of the gardaí. The new independent policing authority will bring new powers and new opportunities here as indeed does the changes brought about to GSOC, being chaired by a High Court judge. All these are important and, actually, represent the most fundamental changes to the structure of the Garda Síochána since the foundation of the State. So the answer to your question is: yes. When I get an opportunity, send me the contact numbers for Mary’s sister, I’d be happy to talk to her.”

 

Meanwhile, staying in tonight?

Previously: Mary Boyle And ‘Political Interference’

Prime Time (RTÉ)

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Yesterday, Independent TD Mick Wallace told the Dáil that he knew of a NAMA portfolio manager who sought a bribe of two installments of €15,000 cash “in a bag” from one of its debtors – to allow the debtor exit NAMA.

This morning, Mr Wallace spoke with Gavin Jennings, on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.

During the interview, Mr Jennings read a letter that Brendan McDonagh, the CEO of NAMA, had written to the Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan, in light of Mr Wallace’s claims.

The letter said:

“It’s my understanding that, under Section 19 of the Criminal Justice Act 2011, any party with evidence of criminal wrongdoing is legally obliged to bring such evidence to the attention of An Garda Siochana. In the event that the deputy [Wallace] is aware of such evidence and has not brought it to the attention of An Garda Siochana, it’s my understanding that this is a breach of Section 19.”

Mr Wallace told Mr Jennings that he found it “interesting that NAMA would like to shoot the messenger”. He also said he would be willing to speak to the gardaí – and name names.

Meanwhile…

Here is what Mr Wallace said in the Dáil yesterday…

Mick Wallace: “Yesterday, the Taoiseach said the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Committee of Public Accounts are the agencies in this jurisdiction for dealing with issues concerning the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA. We both know neither of them have the potential to fully hold NAMA to account. The legislation regarding the Comptroller and Auditor General does not allow for ongoing, intrusive oversight and monitoring and lacks asset management oversight functions. There are many concerns around the workings of NAMA.”

“Cerberus expects to make a large fortune from the purchase of Project Eagle. The £7 million that ended up in an Isle of Man bank account will begin to look like small change. The big loser, though, is the Irish taxpayer in the South. NAMA says the sale of Project Eagle was lawful, but was the purchase lawful? I would have thought that a Fine Gael Government would have a bit more concern about slush moneys for fixers. I doubt the Taoiseach has heard the last of Project Eagle.”

“Does the Taoiseach know how many barristers, judges, solicitors, top-four accountancy firm partners and bankers are in syndicates which have been set up by Goodbody Stockbrokers, Anglo Private, Bank of Ireland Private, AIB Private, Davy, Warren and Quinlan which have transferred to NAMA but which NAMA has not enforced, despite personal guarantees being attached? NAMA is responsible for some people being tossed out of their homes, but it looks like some of the great and good of Irish society are blessed with NAMA’s goodwill.”

“What role did a former Secretary General of the Department of Finance, John Moran, play in NAMA’s handling of the Coroin group’s portfolio? This gentleman remarked at one stage that the number of home repossessions in Ireland was unnaturally low. It would appear he was unnaturally interested in playing a significant role in the outcome of the Coroin group’s portfolio.”

“All is not well. I know of a construction company, Taoiseach, which wanted to exit out of NAMA, so it asked the manager of its portfolio if it could happen and he said, “Yes, but it will cost you €15,000 in cash and I want it in a bag”.”

An Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett: “Sorry, Deputy. If you have these sorts of charges, can I suggest you give them to An Garda Síochána because they cannot be substantiated here?”

Eric J. Byrne: “The Deputy should go before the Committee of Public Accounts with this information. He is grandstanding here.”

Wallace: “A few weeks later, they delivered the money. A few weeks later he demanded the same again. They duly obliged and all was sorted – a small window into the workings of NAMA. Is the Taoiseach still happy with the workings of this secret society?”

Enda Kenny: “The Deputy has made a number of comments and allegations here regarding people working in different sectors, including members of the Judiciary. He made comments in respect of a former Secretary General of the Department of Finance, as well as comments generally in respect of NAMA.”

“Let me repeat again for him. The process of accountability and transparency in this jurisdiction in respect of NAMA is the Committee of Public Accounts in the Oireachtas, chaired by a Member of this House. Personnel from the Comptroller and Auditor General’s office work with NAMA and have access to all the papers and documents relevant to any of these transactions.”

“I would suggest that, as a public representative, the Deputy has a facility where questions can follow his allegations. He should go to Deputy [John] McGuinness’s committee, the Committee of Public Accounts, a committee of long-standing integrity in this House. The Deputy can make his claims, ask his questions. The Chairman of the committee, with his members, is entitled to call in personnel in respect of the issues the Deputy raised.”

“The Deputy has made some serious claims here. I do not have the detailed responses to them. The Committee of Public Accounts is the authorised independent entity in the Oireachtas for accountability and transparency in respect of NAMA. I suggest to Deputy Wallace that in the interest of public accountability and transparency, he goes to the committee, presents his findings and facts – if facts they are – and allow the Chairman and his committee to do their work in the interests of their political responsibility here.”

Wallace: “I can only come to the conclusion that the Taoiseach does not seem awfully interested in getting to the truth. There is a stark contrast between how Northern Ireland is dealing with this and how the Government is dealing with it.”

Creed: “The committee is in the North.”

Wallace: “Can the Taoiseach tell me why did Mr. Frank Daly tell the Committee of Public Accounts that he did not know about the alleged £7 million in the Isle of Man bank account until I mentioned it? I know for a fact that NAMA—–”

Barrett: “I am sorry, but this is Leaders’ Questions.”

Wallace: “—–knew this last January. What did it do about it? Did it tell the Minister for Finance or did it bury it with the rest of it? Mr. Coulter has denied the involvement of a politician. Well, he would, would he not? I decided to contact my sources this morning and ask them to what degree of certainty they could stand over the involvement of a particular politician. Their reply was, “Is 100% enough?”. The Taoiseach has serious problems. Does he want answers to them? Do not bother asking me, Taoiseach, to go to the Garda—–”

Barrett: “Sorry, but this is no way to be dealing with such a serious issue. The Deputy cannot use the Chamber as a Star Chamber where no evidence is presented. The Deputy is affecting people’s reputations here. He has not presented any solid facts.”

Transcript via Oireachtas.ie

Listen to Mr Wallace’s interview on Morning Ireland here