Terms of Reference
Terms of Reference
1. Further to, and building on the review undertaken by the 2011 Committee for Finance & Personnel, to review the principles, practices and systems which were formally or informally in place in the Department of Finance & Personnel to guide ministerial decisions on nominations to positions of strategic importance.
2. To establish what steps the Department of Finance & Personnel and the current Department of Finance have taken to put in place appropriate principles, practices and systems to guide future ministerial decisions on nominations to positions of strategic importance.
3. To establish what steps the Law Society of Northern Ireland has taken to identify how it can provide more transparency and a swifter response in any future case of this kind, which would enhance public confidence in the legal profession.
4. To undertake a fact-finding review of the former Department of Finance & Personnel's knowledge of and involvement in the establishment, management and sale of the NAMA Northern Ireland loans portfolio to establish if there was inappropriate political influence or attempted political influence on NAMA's operations in Northern Ireland and in particular:
a) The evolution of political support for the sale of the NAMA loan book and the Operation Eagle Memorandum of Understanding; and
b) Whether there was inappropriate ministerial lobbying to discount the NAMA sale price.
5. To establish the process whereby nominations were made as to appointments to the Northern Ireland Advisory Committee.
6. To report to the Assembly on the Committee's analysis and conclusions and make recommendations for future ministerial engagement on such matters.
7. The Committee's Inquiry will be guided by the principles of co-operation and co-ordination with all relevant bodies as appropriate.
8. The Committee's Inquiry will be conducted within the context of the overarching need to avoid the risk of prejudicing the ongoing investigations by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Police Service of Northern (PSNI) or any future proceedings.
