Latest news with #Nama
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
‘A hopeless case': Jamie Bryson writes to DPP and Assembly Speaker over Nama trial issues
Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has written to the speakers of both the Assembly and the House of Commons raising concerns over the approach taken by the prosecution in the so-called 'Nama trial'.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
More than 270 NTMA staff given performance-related bonuses last year
The State's debt management agency, the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), is generally considered as one of the best remunerated in the public sector. The agency's annual report for last year, which was launched by the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe on Monday, shows that there were 214 staff earning €100,000 or more, in what are described as short -term benefits. The report says the agency's remuneration model is based on 'confidential, individually negotiated employment contracts, with competitive, market-aligned remuneration'. 'The typical remuneration package comprises a fixed base salary, pension entitlement and provision for discretionary performance-related pay. In a limited number of cases, other allowances or benefits are paid.' READ MORE The report reveals that more than 270 personnel received bonuses under the agency's performance-related pay scheme. 'The NTMA made performance-related payments to 271 employees in 2025 in respect of 2024. These payments, in aggregate, totalled €2,584,729. 'The highest individual payment was €30,000; the lowest individual payment was €1,000.' The report reveals details on the planned wind down of the National Asset Management Agency (Nama) which operates under the protection of the NTMA. It reveals that as part of this process, some 75 staff will be placed on 'garden leave' of up to six months. Nama commenced its final voluntary redundancy scheme (VRS) in 2024 and this will cover about these 75 employees assigned to the agency.
Belfast Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Nama Trial ends: What's next for Jamie Bryson and Daithí Mckay?
All three had repeatedly denied the charges. The charges relate to controversy following the sale of Nama's Northern Ireland portfolio. Nama, the so-called bad bank created by the Irish government to deal with the toxic loans of bailed-out lenders during the economic crash, sold its 800 Northern Ireland-linked properties to investment fund Cerberus for £1.2 billion. Jamie Bryson made headlines in 2015 when he used privilege in a finance committee meeting to claim that then first Minister Peter Robinson was benefiting from the sale of the portfolio. Robinson said the claim was 'without one iota' of evidence. Judge Gordon Kerr KC said he was satisfied that Mr Bryson, who has ambitions of pursuing a career as a barrister, had lied under oath in the trial – allegations he strongly denies. How did the trial unfold and what's next for the Nama story? Olivia Peden is joined by Belfast Telegraph Journalist Liam Tunney, who has followed the trial extensively.
Belfast Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast Trust appoints new chief executive as health minister says fresh start needed amid ‘crisis'
It confirmed Jennifer Welsh has been appointed to the top job following 'a rigorous recruitment and interview process'. The current CEO of the Northern Trust, who has previously worked as a director within the Belfast Trust, will take up the post in October. 'Jennifer has many years' experience within the NI health and social care service, specifically in strategy, operations, performance and capital development as well as a strong track record on safety, quality and governance,' a Belfast Trust spokesperson said. 'I am delighted to be in a position to welcome Jennifer Welsh as our new Chief Executive, I believe she brings exceptional strong leadership, experience and a clear commitment to continue driving improvement and delivering excellent care for our patients and service users. 'Her exceptional leadership qualities, vision and commitment will enable our staff to ensure we continue to deliver safe, compassionate and effective care for everyone who depends on us. 'On behalf of Belfast Trust's Board I look forward to working with Jennifer as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.' Ms Welsh has led the Northern Trust since April 2020. She will replace interim chief executive Maureen Edwards who assumed the role on in September last year two months after Dr Cathy Jack stepped down. The appointment comes after the chairman of the Belfast Trust, Ciaran Mulgrew, was sacked by the health minister. The Department of Health said Mike Nesbitt decided on a change of leadership at the trust as he believes a fresh start is required. Mr Mulgrew left his role on Friday with Mr Nesbitt and the department thanking him for his contribution to the trust and the wider health and social care system. Watch: Bryson and McKay found not guilty in Nama Trial The department said the process for filling the chair's post is being initiated as a priority. In a statement, Belfast Trust's interim chief extended "sincere thanks to Ciaran for his unwavering support, contribution and commitment during his time as trust chairman". Ms Edwards said Mr Mulgrew had helped the trust through some challenging times since his appointment. "In particular, he has shown courage and leadership over the last few months in bringing focus and committing to addressing issues around culture and behaviours in our organisation," she added. "Ciaran always acknowledges the fantastic work of staff in Belfast Trust and is proud of their many achievements. He is leaving the organisation with our gratitude and best wishes for the future. "I wish to reassure our staff and the public that we will continue to make tangible improvements across the organisation to benefit staff, patients and service users." However DUP MLA Diane Dodds, the party's health spokesperson, said his departure is a "testament to the sheer scale of crisis within the Belfast Trust". "There have been a series of scandals over recent months and this reflects that. However, it should be remembered that many of these issues predated the current chair's tenure," she said. "There is a wider systemic problem within the Belfast Trust that will not be resolved by simply removing one individual. "However, we will need to hear more detail about what exactly has prompted this decision at this time." Meanwhile Sinn Féin's health spokesperson Philip McGuigan said the "simple reality is that too often over the last period of time", the trust has "been in the media for all the wrong reasons". "We have had a raft of negative media stories over the recent and medium term with regard to the Belfast Trust," he added. "The decision taken yesterday was a decision for the minister, so it is really up to him to explain the rationale behind that.' Mr McGuigan said that the focus must now be on 'stabilising the trust' to ensure a 'fresh start'.
The Journal
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Jamie Bryson and Daithí McKay cleared in Northern Ireland Nama misconduct trial
THREE MEN, INCLUDING loyalist activist Jamie Bryson and former Sinn Féin MLA Daithí McKay, have been cleared at Belfast Crown Court of charges relating to misconduct in public office. Bryson, 35, from Rosepark in Donaghadee, and co-accused Thomas O'Hara, 41, from Lisnahunshin Road in Cullybackey, were found not guilty of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. The charges had related to a Stormont committee hearing that examined the sale of the National Asset Management Agency's (Nama) Northern Ireland assets in 2015. McKay, 43, from Loughan Road in Dunnamanagh – who was chairman of the finance committee at the time – was found not guilty of misconduct in public office. Bryson and McKay said there are now questions for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) over why the prosecution was brought. The PPS has said the available evidence had indicated it was in the public interest to prosecute. Trial judge Gordon Kerr KC said he believed Bryson had lied while giving evidence in the case, but said he was not involved in a criminal conspiracy. The long-running Nama trial had related to Bryson's 2015 appearance before the Stormont committee, chaired by McKay, which was investigating the sale of Nama's Northern Ireland assets to a US investment fund. The criminal probe was launched after the publication of leaked Twitter messages between Bryson, McKay and the account of O'Hara, who at the time was a Sinn Fein activist in north Antrim. McKay quit as an MLA within hours of the Twitter messages being published in August 2016. The Stormont Finance Committee inquiry was set up in 2015 amid political controversy over the multimillion-pound sale of Nama's property portfolio. Advertisement Nama, the so-called bad bank created by the Irish government to deal with the toxic loans of bailed-out lenders during the economic crash, sold its 800 Northern Ireland-linked properties to investment fund Cerberus for £1.2 billion. Giving evidence to the committee in 2015, Bryson used Assembly privilege to name former DUP leader Peter Robinson as a beneficiary of the sale. The then-first minister of Northern Ireland strongly rejected any suggestion he benefited from the deal. All other parties involved in the transaction also denied wrongdoing. Delivering his judgment in the non-jury trial today, the judge said: 'Despite his lies in court, I am sure that Bryson was at all times communicating with McKay. 'I am sure that the communications were designed to give Bryson the best advice and guidance to maximise his chances of giving evidence. 'My analysis of the messages do not show any occasion where McKay undertook to say or do anything outside his duties as chairman to ensure Bryson's evidence would be in open session. 'Clearing Bryson, the judge said the evidence did not establish there had been a criminal conspiracy between him and McKay. He said: 'In the absence of an agreement, the conspiracy charge must fail.' Turning to McKay, the judge said there was 'no doubt he deliberately misled the committee to ease the way for Bryson's presentation'. The judge pointed out the Assembly had its own code of conduct and said there was 'no precedent for a prosecution in these circumstances'. Clearing McKay, he added: 'I do not consider it my role to expand the offence.' The judge said the evidence against O'Hara 'fell well short' of anything which would convince him of his guilt.
