Nama chief tells Oireachtas committee he was 'kicked around like a political football'

Brendan McDonagh on Wednesday appeared before the Oireachtas Finance Committee in his role as CEO of Nama, which will be wound down later this year, but much of the early questioning focused on the botched appointment. Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

The head of Nama has told an Oireachtas committee he withdrew from the running to become the country's so-called housing tsar after being "kicked around like a political football".

Brendan McDonagh earlier this month withdrew from a mooted appointment as chief executive of the Government’s new housing activation office, after sharp criticism of him carrying his €430,000 Nama salary to the new role.

Mr McDonagh on Wednesday appeared before the Oireachtas Finance Committee in his role as CEO of Nama, which will be wound down later this year, but much of the early questioning focused on the botched appointment.

He said he had discussed the appointment with housing minister James Browne throughout April, but had not been contacted while the issue became a political controversy, which had "annoyed" him. He said he had withdrawn from the running due to the political and public scrutiny around the issue.

Why would I be kicked around like a political football? I did not seek this role.

Mr McDonagh said he had met with the secretary general Graham Doyle on April 10 when they had a "general discussion".

“He subsequently called to invite me to meet minister Browne on April 16, the Wednesday before Easter weekend.

“Minister Browne outlined that's what he wanted the CEO to do....this was not a role I sought or ever canvassed for. I want to be absolutely clear about that.

“But Mr Browne said: ‘Your name has been mentioned in many circles as being somebody who might have appropriate skills to help. Would you be prepared to let me propose your name to the Cabinet sub-committee and the Government?'.

“After talking with him, I agreed, and that was my only discussion about the role, which was with minister Browne.

“I had no other contact with any other members of the political system. On May 1, given there was lots of public controversy about me and the role — I am not a political person, I'm apolitical — I really felt I didn't want to be part of that.

“I'm a professional. I believe I'm a public servant, and I didn't want the story to be all about me. So I advised the minister on May 1 that I really wasn't interested."

Mr McDonagh, however, declined to answer questions about his own property holdings. A report by The Ditch earlier this month revealed that he had been charging €10,000 a week for short-term lets of a home he owns in Dublin. He said that he adheres to all of his ethics obligations.