NAMA sets up dedicated contact email address for politicians

Three weeks ago, it was reported on here that Wicklow independent TD Stephen Donnelly had managed to prod NAMA into getting a move-on with examining the developer business plan which covered Greystones Harbour, which is being developed by Sispar. And last week, another Wicklow TD, Fine Gael’s Simon Harris reported some success of his own in his communications with NAMA.

In the recent Tidy Towns competition – for the non-Irish audience, “Tidy Towns” is an annual competition, run since 1958, that promotes clean, litter-free, well-maintained towns and villages throughout the country –  Greystones was criticised for the poor state of one of its buildings, the former La Touche hotel (pictured here).

The La Touche hotel site is “beneficially” owned by developers Thomas Hayden and sons Wayne and Paul Hayden. The site is subject to a loan from AIB and a receiver, Jim Luby from McStay Luby, was appointed in May 2008. Back in 2008, the receiver was reported to be seeking a price of €15m for the 2.2 acre site. Planning permission has apparently been granted for 85 large apartments, a 10-bedroom hotel and six ground-floor retail and office units. It seems that the loan is now in NAMA.

The report from the Tidy Towns in 2011 was generally positive about Greystones but in relation to the La Touche hotel said “regrettably the remains of the La Touche hotel looked in a terrible state, and the graffiti on the hoarding further degraded the area” and “some dereliction was noted especially at the La Touche site”

Step forward Deputy Harris who reported on 8th September, 2011 on his website that he was to write to NAMA seeking an update on the agency’s plans for the site. “NAMA have a duty to ensure that properties and sites within their control are maintained” said the Deputy.

And on 15th September, 2011 the Deputy reported on his website that he had secured commitments from NAMA. “Following my discussions with NAMA, it has been agreed that significant works will occur at the site in the near future. All existing window hoardings are to be removed and replaced. In addition to this all external balconies to the front and rear of the original hotel building are to be repaired and repainted. All external boundary walls are to be painted, while all external signage, lights and satellite dishes are to be removed” said the Deputy.

Deputy Harris said this evening that “NAMA have recently established a dedicated email address through which members of the Oireachtas can email queries and seek information.”

The issue of lobbying NAMA has long been a subject of interest on here. There is no suggestion whatsoever that Deputy Harris has done anything other than try to better the lives of his constituents but it can surely only be a matter of time before politicians, TDs and Senators intervene with NAMA in ways that mightn’t be so publicly-spirited. They may intervene on behalf of potential buyers of NAMA sites, or developers in their constituency. And again that may be above board also, after all buyers and developers are people too! But it seems that there is no real safeguard against the harmful lobbying envisaged when NAMA was being created. Section 221 (3) of the NAMA Act permits lobbying in the public interest. Section 221 (4) permits lobbying by people whose employment allows them to lobby which seems to include anyone that might have an interest in so doing. So it seems that pretty much everyone is exempted from the draconian penalties – financial and custodial – set out in the NAMA Act.