Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

The Minister told us there will not be a fire sale. He said he will get full value for the State. Would he agree that is not likely to happen in the next two or three years given that the price of everything has gone so low? It beggars belief for him to think he can get real value for this in the next two or three years. Will there be a detailed cost benefit analysis to weigh selling State assets against the long-term costs to the economy, society and the environment? That would be interesting.

The Minister said there is no great strategic value to the State's holding of 25% but we must remember that the staff hold 15% and, combined, at 40% it is the largest stake by far.

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