Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I can during the question and answer session later.

The view from the troika was the sale of State assets was required and must be applied to pay down the debt, as had happened in other IMF programme countries. From the beginning when we took office, we have argued we want to apply a portion of the sales of those assets to investing in future jobs. This is an ongoing point of engagement with the troika.

The Government's policy of releasing value from State assets for productive investment in the economy and for debt reduction, while continuing to protect key assets of strategic importance to the economy, is an appropriate response to the enormous fiscal and economic challenges facing the economy. It will also contribute to bringing about sustainability to the public finances and to fostering economic growth.

See this speech in context