John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Senator Mark Daly asked if the Government had asked the troika for any deal. The Budget Statement from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, referred to the sale of State assets and the fact that we could now use the money garnered to invest in structural change and job creation. When the sale of State assets was first mooted, the idea was that the entire amount earned would be used to pay down debt. That has now changed, but we did not shout, roar or howl about it. The Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform made a quiet deal with the troika to allow the Government to use some of the money from the sale of State assets to invest in job creation. Perhaps those who are urging our negotiators to conduct their business with a megaphone might reflect on the fact that sometimes a behind the scenes, low key negotiation strategy is more effective.