Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

When colleagues from the Technical Group and I asked representatives of the troika during our recent meeting about the proceeds of sales of State assets, we were told that, as per the bailout programme, the initial plan was that the moneys would go towards repaying the State's debts. However, they further indicated that if there is potential for the creation of "real" jobs - I am not sure what they meant by this - they may consider some of the money being allocated for that purpose. In principle, there is not much benefit in selling assets at this time given that there is no market for them. The troika said it was not interested in fire sales - which suggests this is more ideologically driven than anything else - and is looking not alone for money but value. Also, it appears to be of the view that the private sector does things better than the public sector.

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