Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

That is not pragmatic. Let me be very clear: I want to maximise the amount of money we will get for job creation. I am very confident that we will have a very significant sum available from the State assets I have indicated will be sold this year. Within the ESB family, the two power stations I talked about, namely, those in the United Kingdom and Spain, are significant. There is significant interest from the BGE energy-generating capacity. An added benefit will be the creation of more competition in the energy sector. God knows, that is required. The false competition created by the former Government – by having one State company artificially compete with another by not allowing the first to decrease prices – could not work to the benefit of the consumer.

With regard to the cost of consultants, we have tendered and I will give the Deputy full details when the process is complete.

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