Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, has just been answering questions on the matter raised by Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív. Deputy Ó Cuív will be aware that the programme for Government states that the Government intends to realise €2 billion in respect of the sale of State assets at an appropriate time, and not as a fire sale but based on the Government's decisions in this regard. Clearly, the troika in its first number of analyses of Irish performance was of the view that all of the proceeds from any sales of State assets should be used for debt reduction. As Deputy Ó Cuív is aware, the Government has had a number of negotiations with the troika which has resulted in changes in the memorandum of understanding in a number of areas. The Government also made a formal decision in respect of the ESB. The Government is now in negotiations with the troika and concluded some discussions last week for an extended process of possible State assets. The conclusion is that the troika has quite clearly stated it would be prepared to consider a sizeable proportion of any assets realised as investment for job creation. These discussions are continuing. The Ministers made progress in that area with the troika last week.

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