SENIOR OFFICIALS from the National Treasury Management Agency met representatives of the Libyan sovereign wealth funds late last year in Libya to see if it would be interested in investing in Irish debt or Irish banks, it is understood. The talks, which occurred following an expression of interest from the Libyan Investment Authority, did not lead to any investment.

The agency has travelled to meet representatives of a range of Middle Eastern and other sovereign wealth funds over recent months, as a result of inquiries from the funds.

A spokesman for the agency would not comment when contacted.