Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister says it is impossible to make me happy, but that is not true. I welcomed the decision not to sell the company off to the bargain basement hunters. However, I am pointing out that privatisation would be detrimental to this company and to the people of Ireland, and there are ample examples - remember Eircom - in which privatisation damaged a utility that the public had enjoyed. The people of Ireland paid for this company. I argue that it is impossible for any company to plan for the future when its status is unknown. If the Minister wants to make me completely happy, there is a very easy way to do it. He should close the door and lock it on the future sale of Bord Gáis Éireann, because it would be the right thing to do.

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