Noonan to face PAC as Stormont counterpart 'totally chillaxed' about Nama controversy
The Finance Minister Michael Noonan is to face the Public Accounts Committee today over the sale of Project Eagle.
Michael Noonan will be asked whether the portfolio of properties in the North was sold for well below its potential price.
A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General found the taxpayer could have missed out on more than €200m in the deal.
Meanwhile, Stormont's Finance Minister has said he had "absolutely no involvement" in the Nama Coaching Scandal.
Mairtin O Muilleoir said he was "totally chillaxed" about attempts to link him to the controversy that forced the resignation of Daithi McKay, the former Sinn Féin chairman of the Assembly's Finance Committee.
He said: "Whether I am mentioned two times or 200 times I had no knowledge of the communications."
Mr McKay apologised and quit as an Assembly member for North Antrim after private Twitter messages published in the press showed him communicating with loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson ahead of his appearance before the committee's inquiry into the Nama loans deal.
Sinn Féin worker Thomas O'Hara was also suspended by the party, accused of coaching Mr Bryson before he made explosive claims to the finance committee about the efforts of Ireland's bank for bad loans to dispose of its Northern Ireland portfolio to US investors.
Mr O Muilleoir added: "I had no knowledge of the communications, no hand, act or part in the correspondence or exchange between misters Bryson, O'Hara and McKay."
During a lengthy appearance before the Assembly's finance scrutiny committee, the Sinn Féin minister repeatedly batted away questions from DUP chairwoman Emma Pengelly.
He said: "What part of no involvement with, no part in, no knowledge of does the committee, with all due respect, not understand?"
Mr O Muilleoir branded some of the questions "a wee bit silly" and at one point, stated: "I think I have answered that one, let's move on to question number three."
The Minister said he only learned about the back channel while on holiday in the Basque Country, it was claimed.
He also told MLAs he not know Thomas O'Hara and was unaware whether the activist had been employed by Sinn Féin.
"I am a blank slate on this one," said Mr O Muilleoir. "I have no knowledge of who Thomas O'Hara is or isn't.
"I do not believe I have ever met the guy. I do not believe I have ever had any contact with him; I certainly never heard of him until this story broke."
