Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)

The Minister should note that the term used is "possible". No part of the deal demands that the Government sell off State assets. This clarification raises serious questions. Either the Coalition is simply pursuing an agenda of privatisation, or else there is a draft programme already prepared with the troika officials which demands this.

I will mention one more issue that might answer some of the Deputy's questions. Belfast Port is in full public ownership and the North's most valuable asset. When the Executive was faced with a €4 billion cut to the block grant from London, it did not decide to sell off this prized asset as the British Government wanted it to do. Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy, as Minister, recommended changes to the current ports legislation to allow the Executive keep the port in public hands, while leveraging funds from the port for use in meeting public expenditure. This would also allow for an ongoing dividend to the state from the ports. Rejecting privatisation, securing public assets and getting the best value from them for the citizen to pay for schools, public transport, hospitals and health care is what Sinn Féin is demonstrating can be done when there is the political will to do so. It is shocking that Sinn Féin is working for the return of fiscal powers in the North of Ireland, while the Deputy's Government is giving them away.

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