Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

This question was tabled before the Minister's announcement last week, but I am still none the wiser. It is regrettable that the announcement was made in the media and not in the House, which would have allowed us to debate some of these issues. The Minister says he has not spoken to union representatives but the question of job losses is critical. The Minister has attempted to dress up what is in essence a selling off of valuable State assets in order to pay a debt as something that will somehow create jobs. That does not add up.

How does the Minister intend to achieve what has never been done in the privatisations that have already taken place? Eircom's workforce has increased from 14,000 to 7,000 and is targeted to fall to 5,000. Aer Lingus's workforce has been reduced from 7,500 to 3,500. How will the Minister accomplish the miracle of a privatisation that does not involve job losses? Where is this factored in his decisions?

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