Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

We published our alternative budget last week and it is on the public record for everyone to see.

One item the Minister lightly skipped over - it affects the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte in particular - is the privatisation or part-privatisation of the ESB and all essential State services - EirGrid, Bord Gáis Éireann, Coillte and Bord na Móna. That is an issue that will be dealt with. The Minister knows that when any shareholder - even a minority shareholder - is introduced into any of these essential services, it changes the public service mandate of those companies.

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