The finance minister has admitted he asked NAMA about the prospect of speeding up the sale of its portfolio of loans.

But Michael Noonan denies giving any instructions to NAMA to sell its Northern loans, or any others, ahead of schedule.

He's told the Public Accounts Committee that Ireland was under pressure from the ECB and ratings agencies to reduce NAMA's pile of debt, which was guaranteed by the state, 

He says he asked NAMA if it would be feasible to speed up the process - but never interfered in their decisions: