Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Minister's comment. There has been lots of talk over the past year or two about using the proceeds from the sale of State assets for job creation and debt reduction. The Minister trumpeted his great achievement in this regard. To my recollection, this is the first time it has been stated on public record that the Exchequer will receive nothing from the sale of State assets in 2013. This issue has been flagged by the Minister for more than 18 months. We were told money would be generated this year to fund job creation, but he is saying at the end of November that no funds will be recouped under this heading this year. He said the Government will decide what to do with the money that is generated depending on where it needs to plug a hole in future years. He mentioned a sum of €110 million. Is that the special dividend from the ESB? What heading does this come under?

The Minister does not have to disclose the sale price of Bord Gáis, but he has put a figure on the sale of ESB plants in the midlands, notwithstanding the problems with the ESB's pension fund. We need to receive more information on this issue.

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