The head of the Public Accounts Committee has warned that its investigation into the sale of NAMA loans could be stifled by a government delay.
It's emerged that an audit by the Comptroller & Auditor General is nearly finished, around seven months behind schedule, after NAMA submitted its final commentary on some of the issues raised.
But the Comptroller has told this morning's meeting of the Public Accounts Committee he cannot publish the report himself - and that it must first be sent to the Minister for Finance, who himself publishes the report.
But it's also emerged that the minister is not required to publish that report for up to 90 days after he receives it.
This means that a prospective meeting planned by the PAC for September 29th, with senior figures from NAMA due in to discuss the report, may not be able to go ahead.
PAC chairman Sean Fleming says it's important that the long-awaited inquiry isn't stalled:
