Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

One must generate the equity somewhere. The question arises in the current market conditions as to whether the taxpayer would get a decent return on the disposal of these assets. Having disposed of the assets, the Deputy is proposing that they be put into some form of public investment vehicle, which will then invest the proceeds in other forms of investment, such as broadband. The Deputy is proposing a great work of financial engineering, but I do not see how these assets will be realised within a realistic timeframe for a realistic price, generating an immediate investment in the economy of the type he wishes to see emerge. I will examine his proposals again if, as he says, he has refined them since earlier in the year.

The issue of PRSI is a budgetary matter. It must be noted that PRSI in Ireland is lower than most other European countries-----

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