Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

If one is looking for real reform, not merely in systems but in culture, inevitably there is no better place to go than the shop floor because they are the experts in how services are delivered, efficiently or inefficiently.

I want to raise something different with the Minister which relates to commercial semi-State companies. I understand the Minister's role in superannuation, remuneration, terms and conditions and so on. I want him to clarify his role, or lack thereof, in the commercial semi-State companies as regards section 8, reform and change. What I am driving at is the role of the Minister in the transfer or disposal of assets in part or in whole of any of the semi-State companies. The Minister will be aware that I have written to him about the Cahill report in respect of the ESB. He has not written back. Perhaps he might. I made clear to the Minister and others of his colleagues that he should publish that report in advance of any decision on unbundling. For the purposes of this discussion, perhaps the Minister would set out for me where he is located within that decision-making process.

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