Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Ní chóir aon chuid den ESB a dhíol. Sin an méid adúirt Pairtí an Lucht Oibre i rith an toghcháin. Tá Bord Soláthair an Leictreachais ag déanamh brábúis mhóir le blianta anuas agus in ionad aon chuid de a dhíol ba chóir an brabús seo a úsáid chun jabanna a chruthú.

Yesterday I appealed to the Taoiseach to stop giving money away to banks and instead to invest it in jobs. Since then we have heard that an additional 420 jobs may be lost in Dublin. Yesterday, one the first day back after the summer, in response to a question from Deputy Martin Ferris, the Government admitted its plan to sell part of the ESB. I remind the Tánaiste of what he said during the election:

Labour is committed to the concept of public enterprise. It is opposed to short-termist privatisation of key State assets such as Coillte or the energy networks.

When the Deputies on my left sold off Eircom, the Tánaiste called it a debacle and referred to the company being bought and sold like a clapped-out second-hand car. Surely if there is any purpose in Páirtí an Lucht Oibre being in Government with Fine Gael, it is to prevent this type of approach. I appeal to the Tánaiste to consider his position and to stand up for the rights of working people by opposing this sell-off.

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