Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

Therefore, it makes no sense on this basis to countenance selling off any portion of the company. The Minister states the merit of his proposal is that the Government will still have a majority stake. This seems to be the Minister's view. I put it to him that the moment he introduces private shareholders into the equation the fundamental thrust of the organisation in terms of meeting the needs of the State in the strategic medium and long term is fatally undermined. The Minister's approach is short term. He made reference to the Eircom experience and we know what happened there. We have seen this company asset stripped and sweated and its value literally collapse after privatisation.

See this speech in context