Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The only definite decision that has been made by the Government on the sale of State assets is the sale of a minority stake in the ESB but there are a lot of other candidates for further State asset sales, including Aer Lingus. A lot of work must be done first, before the Government comes to the point where it is willing to sell that stake, both in terms of scoping out potential buyers, seeing what terms and conditions they may be willing to accept as part of the sale, and also sorting out the pension deficit which is the main issue now devaluing the company. The company would be worth a lot more if the pension deficit can be sorted out by the end of the year. All those things have to be done first before a final decision can be made on the sale of the State's stake.

Discussions are now underway between the Troika and the Government on whether we will be allowed to reinvest the money in the economy. It is the Government's view, and very much my view, that at least some or most of the money that can be raised from State asset sales should be reinvested in the economy - in infrastructure and jobs. There would be a lot more enthusiasm in the Government for going ahead with State asset sales if that were the case.

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