Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I agree that the deficit of jobs is the greatest problem for our economy, but I do not see how selling off profitable parts of State enterprises will create jobs. In fact, doing so will merely put pressure on what is left of the company in public ownership to be privatised. That was one of the reasons for my opposition to the sale of Coillte's harvesting rights, and the same danger arises in respect of Bord Gáis and ESB. After selling off the profitable bits, what is left will invariably come under greater pressure further down the road.

I have a final question. The cost of energy is a major burden for consumers and the State as a whole. Bord Gáis Energy produces wind energy, has a considerable development portfolio and has wind energy assets currently under construction. How can it be a good idea for the State to sell off the ability to produce energy? Surely having the ability to produce our own energy is the way to exercise some degree of control over prices? If we sufficiently develop our wind energy capacity, we will have access to cheaper electricity for citizens. It is a question of control of the production of energy.