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

The Minister had a target of €2 billion for the sale of State assets, then he upped it to €3 billion. Given that Coillte and Aer Lingus are off the list, for now, what is the current expected target? The Minister was able to talk about a figure of €2 billion which went to €3 billion but now that two of the assets are off the list by how much approximately will the Minister be short? That is a significant reduction from the original target of €3 billion so how much will the Minister need to have available for his infrastructure stimulus package that he announced in July 2012? He very correctly said a few moments ago that he will sell nothing if he does not get a fair price. That could happen and he has deemed it more prudent not to sell Coillte and Aer Lingus. If he is not sure of the proceeds how could he last July announce expenditure of €850 million before having received a red cent? He has announced it and referred to it several times and the money is still wishful, waiting somewhere over the horizon. We now know that a large chunk of it cannot come through because Coillte and Aer Lingus are off the agenda. What is the Minister's revised target and how much of the €850 million, that he announced a year ago he would spend, has he realised? Has he been back to the troika? He said he had a great deal of negotiation with the troika about the use of the funds and that the Government made its decision today. Had he cleared that decision with the troika before announcing it today? Is the troika aware that the target of €3 billion that he agreed with them after "tortuous" negotiations is not now going to be met and what is its reaction to that?