No ‘prompt publication’ of Nama's Project Eagle report

The Department of Finance has rejected a cross-party Dáil committee’s request to publish an independent report on Nama’s Project Eagle controversy next week — partly due to the ongoing Apple tax crisis.

A spokesperson for Finance Minister Michael Noonan’s department said last night it has no plans to meet the deadline put down by Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chair and Fianna Fáil TD Seán Fleming.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Fleming called for the “prompt publication” of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s detailed report into the multibillion-euro Project Eagle saga.

The document, which outlines key issues involved in the Nama-related Northern Ireland property portfolio controversy and whether the public has unnecessarily lost out on vital funds due to the issue, was sent to Mr Noonan on August 9.

The report is understood to make a series of findings about the matter, with Mr Fleming saying it needs to be released “within the next week” to ostensibly allow PAC members time to review the file fully before a meeting on the deal on September 29.

However, despite the request, a Department of Finance spokesperson last night said the report would not be made public until it has been signed off on by Cabinet after the return of the Dáil from its summer recess on September 27 — just two days before the scheduled meeting.

While it is widely anticipated the Dáil will return as early as next week due to the Apple tax crisis, it is understood the department has no plans to publish the Project Eagle report during this period.

Under the terms of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993, the department has three months from August 9 to publish the report.