Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

This is the situation we are in. Can the Taoiseach say when the IPO will take place? Exactly what size of share is being retained. What does he propose to do when that share is diluted? Does he accept the European Court of Justice ruling in the matter of a golden share? Why is he putting it abroad that this is going to protect a strategic interest in the future when he knows it will not? Did it protect us in the case of Irish Sugar? Was not the House told at the time by the former Minister, Michael O'Kennedy, that he would retain a golden share, which I think was 35%? Did that protect Irish Sugar? We are doing all this for how much? Is it €400 million? Some €400 million is a peddling amount of money in these circumstances.

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