Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I obviously do not have the same enthusiasm for the sale of State assets as the Deputy. Accordingly, we took a very measured approach to it and he is dead right. The fact that we have not had an extensive sale of State assets is not something about which I am crying. This will be done in a structured way and for the best benefit of the taxpayer. There will be no fire sale or panic. The resources we get from such sales will be utilised in the best interests of the Exchequer and the people to create jobs, boost construction and complete the targets we have set. We have much more freedom to do this now that we have exited the troika regime. We were able to do this because of all the renegotiations we undertook on the dreadful programme negotiated by the collapsing Government of 2010. We have renegotiated the promissory notes, the terms of the loan and the interest rates payable. That has given us flexibility to ensure moneys we raise from the sale of State assets are deployed in the best interests of workers and the people.

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