The Government has published a letter sent to the Taoiseach's office from a failed bidder in the sale of NAMA's Northern Ireland portfolio.
The letter, dated 13 February 2014, from Michael R George (Managing Director of Fortress Capital Formation in New York) asks how the company could get involved in the sale.
In the letter, he says “we would like to throw our hat in the ring”.
The senior official in the Taoiseach's office replied that the correspondence had been copied to NAMA and they would put them in touch with the right officials.
A government spokesperson said it was the only correspondence found to date from Fortress.
A spokesperson for NAMA said they had not received any complaints from Fortress about the sale of NAMA's Northern Ireland portfolio.
He added that Fortress had proceeded to make a bid and was among the final two bidders.
In the Dáil on Wednesday Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin raised issues highlighted in an Irish News report that Fortress had written to the Taoiseach's office complaining about business practices of third parties leading up to sale.
Mr Kenny told the Dáil he was unaware of a letter being received in his office from an unsuccessful bidder.
He said he would have it checked immediately and would see if such a letter was received and replied to.
He also said he would publish the correspondence if it was received.
A Government spokesman said this evening they had published the letter on the Merrion Street website.
He added they had sent it on to the Fianna Fáil leader and that “the lose assertions made by Mr Martin and others were false”.
Meanwhile, two Northern Ireland businessmen, named during a Stormont committee hearing earlier this week, have issued statements.
On Wednesday, during evidence to the Assembly finance committee, high-profile loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson claimed five people, including the Democratic Unionist Party leader Peter Robinson, David Watters and Andrew Creighton, were set to benefit from a £7m "success fee" lodged in an Isle of Man bank account. The transaction involving the sale of NAMA’s Northern Ireland property portfolio was known as Project Eagle.
Developer Andrew Creighton said "Following allegations made at Stormont I can categorically state that I have made no claim for a fee. I have not received any payment nor to I expect to receive any payment in relation to Project Eagle.”
Accountant David Watters said "unsupported testimony provided at Stormont claimed I was due to receive a fee from monies paid to an Isle of Man account. This is completely false. I had no role in, and was in no way party to, the issuance of this fee. Additionally and for the avoidance of any doubt, I had no direct or indirect involvement in the Project Eagle transaction."
The statement from Mr Watters does not indicate whether or not he believed he was entitled to receive a fee related to the successful sale of NAMA’s Northern Ireland property portfolio.
Mr Robinson called the claims "scurrilous" and unfounded.
Mr Bryson came to prominence three years ago as a loyalist protester during the demonstrations linked to the Union flags controversy.
Earlier this year, he received a six-month suspended prison sentence for taking part in unlawful public processions.
In recent weeks his blog has featured allegations about the NAMA property sale controversy.
 
            