Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

In the coming four years the turnover of the State will be in excess of €200 billion. The margin for error in that amount far exceeds the €2 billion referred to in the programme for Government to be raised through the sale of State assets. Therefore, like many other things, in financial terms, this aspect could be renegotiated. It is simply a drop in the ocean. So far this year the Government is €800 million ahead of the targets set in the budget. Will the Minister confirm that this process is being driven by an ideological view in the EU-IMF troika rather than by a financial need? If we achieve the targets set in the four year plan and the memorandum of understanding by growth, without selling assets, does the Minister believe the EU-IMF troika would agree that assets need not be sold? In that event, would the Minister be in favour of not selling them?

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