C&AG report: Noonan and Kenny catch a break as publication timing could have been much worse

There will be some fallout but the publication of the C&AG’s report into Nama’s disposal of assets in Northern Ireland could have come at a much worse time for the Finance Minster — two years ago he would have been finished, writes Michael Clifford

MICHAEL NOONAN can comfort himself with the truism that timing is everything. The publication of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report into Nama’s disposal of assets in Northern Ireland could have come at a much worse time for the finance minister.

The report claims that hundreds of millions were effectively lost by Nama through “shortcomings” and “irregularities”. The Nama chiefs dispute this contention. It’s highly unusual for a state body to dispute the findings of an office that acts as the government’s spending watchdog.