Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

The history of the Great Southern Hotels group is clear. I have no objection to maintaining Great Southern Hotels in State ownership, if it remains profitable. However, the hotels must be run efficiently and well in terms of the mix in the tourism market and the hotel business, which is very competitive. There is no reason the group should not remain in State ownership.

I am in the difficult position of having to proceed without the business plans. I do not want to pre-empt or speculate on what might be in them. It is fair to those who are putting them together that I wait until the Minister for Finance and I receive them. In light of the viability of all the entities the Minister for Finance and I must approve the entire process in which we are engaged and the completion of the business plans.

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