Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to read back a sentence from page 2 of the Minister's opening statement. "A target of €2 billion from the sale of non-strategic assets was agreed in the programme for Government." What we have heard from the Minister subsequent to his opening remarks here has been a litany of broken promises in that regard. The Minister said the €2 billion was to be made up from part of the sale of Bord Gáis Éireann, part of the sale of some of the ESB assets, from the sale of the 25% stake in Aer Lingus and from the sale of Coillte trees. However, the Minister has come in today to say that two of those four sales will not happen now. The 25% share in Aer Lingus is not for sale now and we agree it should not be sold. Also, the Coillte assets are no longer for sale and the company will now be merged, possibly with Bord na Móna.

The Minister had hoped to realise a target of €2 billion from the sale of the four assets mentioned.