Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

Any privatisation or disposal of State assets under the McCarthy report would entail legislation. Given various personal statements made outlining the opposition of members of the Government party to the sale of Bord na Móna, Coillte and a number of other State companies, can the Tánaiste assure us that we will not see legislation to dispose of these assets?

The Taoiseach referred this week to the proposed constitutional convention. It has been recent custom in this House for measures relating to the Constitution to be subject to all-party discussion prior to publication. The Taoiseach indicated that the convention is to be a cross-party, cross-community entity, like us in Dáil Éireann, although we apparently not fit to constitute ourselves as such a convention.

There are two Ministers who cannot be held accountable by the House for their actions. Fianna Fáil has placed a notice of motion to address this position immediately instead of waiting for legislation, which would allow the Minister for public expenditure and reform to answer questions on Thursday, 5 May and the Minister for children on Tuesday, 10 May.

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