Legal Framework

The National Treasury Management Agency Act 1990 provided for the establishment of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) "to borrow moneys for the Exchequer and to manage the National Debt on behalf of and subject to the control and general superintendence of the Minister for Finance and to perform certain related functions and to provide for connected matters". Obligations or liabilities undertaken by the NTMA in the performance of its functions have the same force and effect as if undertaken by the Minister.

The Chief Executive, who is appointed by the Minister for Finance, is directly responsible to him and is the Accounting Officer for the purposes of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee. The NTMA has an Advisory Committee to assist and advise on such matters as are referred to it by the NTMA.

Additional functions were given to the NTMA under the following statutes:

• Securitisation (Proceeds of Certain Mortgages) Act 1995
• National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000
• National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2000
• Asset Covered Securities Act 2001
• Dormant Accounts Act 2001
• National Development Finance Agency Act 2002
• Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002
• Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2002
• Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003
• Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005
• Dormant Accounts (Amendment) act 2005
• Carbon Fund Act 2007
• Health Act 2007
• National Development Finance Agency (Amendment) Act 2007
• various Finance Acts