Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the speedy passage of this Bill. I agree wholeheartedly with Senator D'Arcy. I have met the troika on each occasion as a member of my party's finance team. In my view the IMF is the more accommodating and more flexible part of the troika. I caution the Minister of State with regard to the sale of our strategic State assets. There is some confusion in this House and elsewhere that the original memorandum of understanding did not include a figure or a firm commitment with regard to selling State assets. In my personal view I am not opposed to privatisation. In many instances - particularly in regard to former State utility companies - privatisation leads to rationalisation and significant job losses. We see significant job losses in the banking sector. The Government must be cognisant of that and I caution against the spin being put on this, that we will raise €2 billion and that a further €1 billion will be used towards job creation. The Minister of State does not have to answer this point but I caution him on it. Will the money be spent through the strategic investment bank?