Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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3. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Department's intended schedule for the sale of State owned assets. [24938/13]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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4. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will list the State companies that are being currently considered for sale; if this list has been altered since it was originally drawn up; if he will provide a timetable for completion of the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24893/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.

The House will be aware from my announcement in February of last year of the overall shape and scale of the State asset disposal programme that is being pursued. In brief, the disposal programme that the Government has agreed consists of the sale of Bord Gáis Éireann's energy business, but not including BGE's gas transmission or distribution systems or the two gas interconnectors, which will remain in State ownership; the sale of some of ESB's non-strategic power generation capacity, that is, its two power stations not located in Ireland; disposal of the State's remaining shareholding in Aer Lingus, when market conditions are favourable in circumstances that accord with Government transport policy and at an acceptable price to the Government; and, after further consideration, and having ruled out the sale of Coillte's land holdings, the Government has also determined that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte forests would be proposed for sale.

I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made to date. BGE formally launched the sale process for its energy business on 3 May and I expect that the sale will be concluded by the end of this year. The ESB is also about to commence the sale of some of its non-strategic power generation assets, as announced last October. I expect that the sale of two of ESB's overseas assets, at Marchwood in the UK andAmorbieta in Spain, will be completed before the end of this year. In regard to Aer Lingus, the European Commission's recently completed investigation of Ryanair's bid for the company has been a complicating factor in the disposal of the State's stake. The UK's Competition Commission has now also reopened its investigation into Ryanair's holding in its rival. Until this and possible appeals processes are exhausted, it is unlikely that optimal conditions will exist for a sale of the Government's remaining shareholding.

In regard to Coillte, on foot of the Government's decision last year that a concession for the harvesting rights to the company's forests be considered for sale, an interdepartmental steering group was established, comprising representatives from my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and NewERA, to progress the proposed transaction. A number of detailed financial, technical and other specialist reports were prepared for Coillte in late 2012 by external specialist consultancy bodies, in full consultation with the board of Coillte and its executive management, and these have also been considered by the steering group. The steering group has now reported to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and myself, and we intend to bring proposals on this matter to the Government shortly.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Seán Fleming.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Higgins tabled Question No. 3.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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My apologies. I call Deputy Higgins.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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I thought we had got a new recruit from an unlikely quarter, a Cheann Comhairle.

The sale of any key infrastructure to transnational corporations on foot of the diktats of the troika to bail out bondholders and bankers is shameful. However, I will concentrate on Coillte and the proposed sale of forestry harvesting rights.

The Minister stated he has got the report. Will he share with us what the report states? Does he acknowledge that leaks, perhaps from the Government or his Department, are now pointing to the fact that the sale of Coillte's harvesting rights, which would be immoral, would not make the economic sense that may have been envisaged? Does he acknowledge there is deep-seated opposition among ordinary people to the sale? It would create great uncertainty among downstream operators in the wood industry. A cost to the State of perhaps €1.3 billion, as estimated by the IMPACT trade union study, would arise. Access to recreational and outdoor facilities could be jeopardised. For those reasons, will the Minister agree that the sale of the harvesting rights should not proceed? Will he share with us what he proposes to do? His colleagues in the Labour Party have indicated the sale should not go ahead, and they feel the pressure. The Minister should let us know now; he should not hold off for another week or two.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I understand the Deputy's views on these matters. What was considered was the sale of harvesting rights of trees that were growing commercially. The announcements were made in 2011 and people talked about a firesale and a rush. There is neither a rush nor a firesale. Very careful due diligence applies in respect of all these matters. The final report, drawing together all the advices received, has been submitted to me and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and it will be presented to the Government shortly. I must be forgiven for allowing the Government time to consider the report and make a decision thereon before I share it with the House. As soon as the Government has made a decision, which will not take long, I will bring the conclusion to the House.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to Question No. 4, the Minister referred to expressions of interest in respect of Bord Gáis. Could he give us a ballpark figure of the fees to be paid to consultants as part of the process? Somewhat perversely, the Minister seemed to indicate Ryanair's situation is actually preventing the sale of the 25% stake in Aer Lingus because of the various competition issues that arise. Is the Minister implying that the complication would not arise if Ryanair withdrew and that the Government could then proceed?

With regard to Coillte, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, stated the mooted privatisation of Coillte looks more unlikely everyday. Does the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform share his views? The Minister stated the ESB is selling off some power-generation facilities in the United Kingdom and Spain. Will it be selling off any in Ireland in the coming year?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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There were four separate questions. With regard to the cost of consultants, the process is obviously ongoing but I will give the Deputy a full costing when the matter has concluded and we have bills from the people assisting us in these matters.

Ryanair constitutes a complication but the primary issue is one of ensuring competition. I stated no decision will be made that is contrary to good transport policy. This means building on our tourism sector and ensuring businesses will have access to the State. These matters are all being considered by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

About an hour after the Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, said what Deputy Fleming quoted, I was asked about Coillte at a press conference after the troika evaluation. I responded that the Minister's evaluation is seldom off the mark.

With regard to the ESB, there will be no sale of any power-generating capacity in the Republic or the island of Ireland.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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In the Minister's discussions with the troika on the sale of State assets, did the sale of Coillte feature? What was the outcome of the exchange? What is the attitude of the troika? If the Minister will not tell us what the report on Coillte states before it is presented to the Government, could he state whether his thinking has moved on over recent months in response to the very strong and persuasive arguments made on why the sale of Coillte's harvesting rights would be a very bad idea and damaging to our national forestry and proper policies on job creation and recreational facilities, etc.?

The Minister said the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources stated the sale is unlikely to happen and that he is seldom off the mark. Was the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform confirming that the sale will not go ahead?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am confirming nothing because the Government has not made a decision on this matter yet. I have already indicated that to the House. I will revert to the House as soon as the Government has made a decision.

The Deputy asked whether my approach has changed. I have a pragmatic approach to solving the economic problems of this country and to determining what we can do to generate jobs. The first task I undertook with the troika was to change its understanding of what was to be done with the proceeds of State asset sales, which was to retire a little bit of debt. My determination and that of the Government as a whole was to use resources obtained from the sale of State assets to create jobs and reinvest in our economy. We have been very successful in that agreement. I want the proceeds of State assets to reinvest in current job creation. When we know the amount of money we will have later this year, we will be able to make plans on how to utilise it to create jobs in the economy.

With regard to Coillte, one must consider whether we will get the right price; the value; the costs that might arise; the impact on jobs, including those of the suppliers who depend on Coillte currently; and the environmental and recreational considerations. All these factors have been analysed very carefully and the analysis will be brought to the Government very soon.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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With hindsight, the Minister will agree that he did not make his statement on Bord Gáis correctly. I asked him how much will be paid to consultants. For a Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to state he will have to wait until the bills come in at the end of the process is insufficient. He must have a budget. I suggest that he have a budget and a ceiling. He should know these at this stage.

It appears as if the Aer Lingus development will not really happen this year, nor will the Dublin Port transaction.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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That was never to be the case.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Coillte seems to be substantially off the agenda or heading off the agenda. With regard to the ESB, there is to be no sale of energy-generating facilities in Ireland. Given that the Minister wanted to use up to 50% of the proceeds for job creation, how much less will he have for job-creation initiatives as a result of rowing back on his original plans? The estimate suggests there is quite a rowing back on the Minister's original plans, thereby leaving less money for job creation.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is hard to please the Deputy. He is not satisfied if we are selling and if we are not selling. He might make up his mind which side of the fence is actually on.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I take a pragmatic view like the Minister.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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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.