Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I asked the question because of a speech the Minister made some weeks ago. I do not want to go into the question of NewEra, but the Minister largely misrepresented it and then underlined his opposition to the sale of any State assets. He pointed out that a number of the semi-State companies are engaging in investment programmes, which is correct. Of course these are all the network companies that we would retain in State ownership. However, we are now in a different situation and need a stimulus in the economy. The National Pension Reserve Fund has largely been given away to the banks by the Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government, and the best option, in my view, is to sell off the non-essential semi-State companies and a minority share in the monopoly companies to raise, according to estimates by Davy, some €9 billion, which is an enormous amount of money that could be used to fund a stimulus in the economy and avoid many of the very painful measures this Government intends to impose on the people.

The Minister did not answer my question. I asked him whether he was reconsidering his position, to which he indicated he was and he was not, which is typical of the Greens. One does not know whether they are coming, going or staying put. I will put the question clearly: will the forthcoming budget on 7 December include provision for revenues from the sale of State assets? If one looks at the budget, there is about €2 billion in tax cuts, €2 billion in spending cuts, and €700 million under the category entitled "other". Does that include the sale of semi-State assets and in the event, will he vote against the budget?

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