Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

This is an extremely important motion. It provides one of the few opportunities, or perhaps the only one, the Dáil will be given to vote on the monstrous plan by the Government to sell off State assets. What is now proposed by the Fine Gael-Labour coalition is monumental in its long-term economic implications for the Irish people. One should make no mistake that what we are looking at is not only a direct continuation but an escalation of the socially destructive and economically futile policies of the Fianna Fáil Government that wrecked the Irish economy. A year ago this week, the electorate rejected that Government and elected what it believed was an alternative in the form of the Fine Gael-Labour coalition; yet, as we mark that anniversary, we are faced with a plan for the fire sale of State assets that far exceeds anything attempted by Fianna Fáil in its worst days in office.

The commercial semi-State companies - the ESB, Bord Gáis, Coillte and Aer Lingus – were built up over many years by the hard work of Irish people and have been key pillars of the economy. They have provided the essential infrastructure without which no economy can grow. Energy, natural resources and strategic transport links are all indispensable assets that should remain in public ownership.

The succession of Fianna Fáil-led Governments from 1997 began the process of privatisation of these assets. In the case of Eircom, they were responsible for a huge debacle which should have been a lesson to the present Government. When in opposition, both Fine Gael and the Labour Party repeatedly pointed to that reckless privatisation.

In May 2005 Sinn Féin tabled a Private Members' motion opposing the privatisation of Aer Lingus. Speaking at that time on behalf of the Labour Party, Deputy Róisín Shortall, the current Minister of State and the Minister's colleague, said:

The experience of the privatisation fiasco in Eircom should sound alarm bells for us all. We cannot prevent venture capitalists from repeating the devastation of Eircom by stripping Aer Lingus of its assets, reducing services, putting it into serious debt and walking off with the proceeds. We have to ask whether the Minister is incapable of learning from the mistakes of the past.

She was also correct when she told us then:

Privatisation really is the new religion... Privatisation puts such services and assets at long-term risk and we should not just abandon them at the ideological whim of the coalition partners.

Perhaps the Labour Deputies would care to tell us now if the same applies to the current coalition partners. It clearly did to Fianna Fáil, the Green Party et al.

I have not yet heard of any events to mark the centenary this year of the establishment of the Irish Labour Party – an important event in the party's history - but I wonder how the party will square its support in government for this fire sale of State assets to private profiteers with its claim to be the successor of James Connolly and Jim Larkin.

What of Fine Gael? The less said, the better. We should not be surprised at its stance as it is clearly a party of the right and has championed privatisation almost as much as the Progressive Democrats. The plan for the sale of State assets is an invitation for exploiters to reap the profits, potential profits and job-creation capacity of commercial semi-State companies.

In the case of Coillte, I find it especially reprehensible that the Government would even consider selling the company's harvesting rights. That is what is at stake. Coillte is the largest land-holder in the State and while it is not, at present, proposed that its land be sold, the Government is selling access to that land and its resources. If ever there were a strategic asset, it would be that comprising our forestry and forestry land, yet we have a plan to abandon them to private interests with very serious long-term consequences for rural areas and the whole island.

There is an alternative and it is in the wording of the Sinn Féin motion. The Government should retain the people's ownership in the companies. The full potential of the companies has yet to be realised. Instead of proceeding with its plan for wholesale privatisation, the Government should establish a semi-State strategy group with responsibility for delivering a strategic job creation and training project.

All annual dividends paid to the State by the commercial semi-State body could be ploughed into this jobs and training strategy, thus making a major contribution to economic recovery.

The path the Government is following with this privatisation plan and its other austerity measures is the road to deeper recession and long-term stagnation of the Irish economy. I am glad the people are going to have an opportunity, as announced today by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, thankfully in this House, to give their verdict on the latest EU treaty which, if ratified, would lock this and all future Governments for many years into the austerity policies that are doing so much damage to our society and economy.

The people will have an opportunity very soon to stop this futile strategy in its tracks. We in Sinn Féin are determined to ensure they will do so. The people will have an opportunity and chance not only to consider what is proposed in regard to the EU treaty but also to consider the Government's stewardship of the interests of the Irish people in the context of the wider European experience, particularly in contemporary times.

The Sinn Féin motion is one that all Deputies, irrespective of political allegiance, should consider seriously with a view to supporting it tomorrow night. It is incumbent on Deputies, especially those of the Labour Party, to accept that what is now being proposed by the Government at the behest of the Fine Gael influence, is absolutely anathema to everything the Labour Party Deputies stand for, have spoken for and have campaigned for over many years. The position the Labour Party has articulated heretofore on the defence of State assets and what is ultimately the family silver of the people of the State and the whole island of Ireland has been more than sound. Why would it now do a complete volte-face and abandon a position it has fought for, championed and articulated in the House time and again in my earshot throughout my 15 years as a Member?

It is beyond comprehension and I appeal to Labour Party Deputies not to sell off our State assets. They should take a stand, be courageous and stand with the people's interests now and in future.

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