Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Minister has been very helpful and Deputies may have obtained a better reading of his mind this afternoon than on any previous occasion. He referred to Greece. Ireland and Greece are in a totally different position because we have adhered to the agreement we reached with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. It is my understanding from the statements of the Government that the European Union and the IMF do not mind how the Government proceeds, provided it achieves the bottom line. However, when it comes to the sale of State assets, we appear to have common cause because the issue is being ideologically driven by the European Union and the IMF. We have seen what ideologically driven policies and competition in Europe did to the banking sector, for example. Will the Minister try to ensure the privatisation of State assets will be deferred for as long as possible in the hope we can avoid a forced sale of assets we do not want to sell? I am not opposed to selling assets where their sale would be better for everyone concerned. The Minister will agree, however, that the ESB or part of the company is not such an asset. Does he also agree that if one wants economic growth, control over basic energy infrastructure, that is, networks, is vital because one must be able to direct investment from a national perspective rather than on the basis of securing a return on capital? Does he agree that, if possible, the State should retain 100% ownership of the gas and electricity transmission and network systems?

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