Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

The McCarthy group report will be considered by the Government and by individual Departments with line responsibility for various State agencies and bodies. The comment by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, to the effect that there will not be a delay relates to making a decision on these matters. This Government's approach is that it makes decisions as quickly as possible. I am sure Deputy Higgins would agree that it is important to have a Government which is decisive.

When Deputy Higgins has an opportunity to read the report he will discover that it is clear that there should not be a fire sale of State assets. He will also find that there is a requirement in any event for regulatory changes to be made in respect of State assets and agencies, irrespective of whether such assets are held by State bodies or whether they are disposed of. Obviously, that is a matter which much be addressed. The issue of disposing of State assets, if and when it arises, will only be considered in the light of market conditions. I reassure Deputy Higgins that nobody is in any rush to dispose of State assets. If there is any disposal of State assets to be addressed, a decision on that will be made by the Government.

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