Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 11 together.

These questions relate to the sale of the Government's stake in Aer Lingus. The Government recently considered the various options open to it in terms of generating revenue from the sale of State assets, including the recommendations of the State assets review group in the McCarthy report. That report recommended that the Government dispose of its shareholding in Aer Lingus "as soon as is opportune" but no decision has yet been made by the Government on a disposal of the State's shareholding in the company.

In addition to the Government's recent decision to sell a minority stake in the ESB, the Government also agreed that it is prepared, in principle, to undertake further asset sales. A process has been initiated to consider a number of potential assets in this context. The State's shareholding in Aer Lingus will be considered as part of this process.

A group, led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and including my Department, other relevant Departments and the NTMA, will consider possibilities in this regard and advise the Government on the appropriate valuations to be placed on the assets in question. The group will also advise on the most appropriate method of disposal, the likely timeframe and economic impact of any such disposal, in order to inform any further decisions that the Government may wish to make in this regard.

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