Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I agree with much of what the Deputy said. I fundamentally disagree with the way Eircom was privatised. It was a strategic company providing a strategic service. That is why we are not selling off any of the strategic distribution lines of gas or electricity in this country. We are determined not to make those awful mistakes. I also agree with the point of Deputy Higgins in respect of artificial competition. The notion that energy competition is one State company being forced to keep high prices while another State company takes its business is a nonsense. I agree with Deputy Higgins and that is why we need real competition, with a State company unleashed to compete in a real market with, hopefully, an external player that will drive down the cost of energy for all consumers. That is what we want to achieve, without being captured by any ideology of the past.

There is no pressure on us on the sale deadline for Aer Lingus. We will only sell State assets if there is a fair market price. This is also true of BGE. If circumstances are not opportune when we get to the market, that will be my recommendation.

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