PAC to ask Noonan before it on Project Eagle

The Public Accounts Committee has agreed to invite the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan to appear before them regarding the sale of Project Eagle.

The committee met in private session this morning to discuss what witnesses it should hear evidence from regarding the sale of Nama's Northern Ireland loan portfolio.

The members agreed to invite Mr Noonan in before them. However it will not hear from whistleblower Jamie Byrson. Mr Bryson made a number of claims about the sale of the portfolio before the Northern Ireland Finance committee.

The committee agreed to ask Mr Bryson to provide whatever evidence he has in written format.

It will also invite the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to write to the PAC outlining why he wants to give evidence. Mr McGuinness had written to the committee seeking to appear before them.

He has claimed he was kept in the dark about the sale of the portfolio.

However documents released by the Department of Finance show he was on a telephone call with Mr Noonan and DUP leader Peter Robinson.

Cerberus Capital Management’s €1.6 billion purchase of Project Eagle Nama’s Northern Ireland loans, worth a total of €6 billion, in April 2014 is at the centre of claims that a number of Belfast political and business figures were to receive payments as a result of the deal. The company itself denies any wrongdoing.