Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach should learn from the history of implementing previous programmes for government, particularly concerning his target of raising €2 billion through the sale of State assets. Does he agree that traditionally the privatisation of State assets has been extremely destructive for our economy and for the public? The Telecom Éireann privatisation debacle, for example, was sweated by a succession of vulture capitalists. There was then a huge under-investment in broadband which is still a problem. Similarly, Team Aer Lingus resulted in the disaster of losing 1,300 highly skilled jobs after a few years of privatisation in the airmotive industry.

Will the Taoiseach rule out the sale of the State's share of Aer Lingus? A major international capitalist getting its hands on this crucial sector is a huge threat to jobs and the facilities at Heathrow. An island nation should have control over its air transport facility and, therefore, the Taoiseach should rule out selling the rest of what was the national airline. In fact, he should move towards re-nationalisation.

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