The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has said they are “anxious” for Mick Wallace to meet with them and discuss his allegations regarding the National Asset Management Agency.

John McGuinness told Newstalk Breakfast: ““We have invited Mick Wallace to attend the Public Accounts Committee, in a private or public session, to elaborate on the allegation he made.”

Yesterday, speaking under Dáil privilege, Mr Wallace said he was aware of a construction company that had gone to a portfolio manager in NAMA and asked if it would be possible to leave the Agency. The NAMA employee told the company, Wallace alleges, ‘yeh, but it’ll cost you 15,000 in cash and I want it in a bag.’” The construction company paid the fee, and a second payment of €15,000, Mr Wallace says.

NAMA has called for a Garda investigation into the allegation. An investigation is now underway.

Mr McGuinness, Fianna Fail TD for Carlow/Kilkenny, said he contacted Mr Wallace twice yesterday, including a email inviting him to attend, and believes it would “be helpful” if the Wexford TD would share whatever information he has regarding NAMA with the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the PAC.

“The fact of the matter is he has made these allegations and the finger now points at staff in NAMA,” Mr McGuinness said.

“I think it’s irresponsible of Mick to make those allegations and then not come forward and work with the very Oireachtas committee that has been tasked with investigating NAMA.”

Whistleblowers, such as Mr Wallace, are likely unwilling to go to the PAC, Ivan Yates contended, as the Committee has been hampered in previous investigations. Mr McGuinness rejected this, saying “If we had the information based on his allegations we could then take it up directly with NAMA.”

“I want to know and the members of the public accounts committee want to know and we’re very anxious that Mick Wallace would come in and tell us about NAMA,” he added.

Listen to the full interview with John McGuinness below