Senior Irish officials from the National Treasury Management Agency (NAMA), the national asset management agency that acquired bad loans from Irish banks, met representatives of the Libyan government year to ask them if they would be interested in investing in Irish debt or Irish banks.

The talks, which were held at the request of the Libyan Investment Authority, did not lead to any investments however.

Officials from the agency have also met with representatives of other Middle Eastern wealth funds over recent months, as a result of inquiries from other nations funds.

A spokesman for NAMA would not comment on the moves when contacted by the Irish press this week.