Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Absolutely. In the context of what the Minister said, it is important to note that Sinn Féin Senators regularly provide the Government with alternatives. All I need do in this regard is to refer him to our pre-budget submissions for this year and previous years. We have put forward options - which have been costed by the Department of Finance - for dealing with the difficulties relating to the finances of the Government in a much more forthright way that would not result in the sale of State assets. We have called on the Government to consider the options we have put forward but it has obviously decided not to do so, which is a shame.

Anyone who is familiar with the private sector will be aware that it is common practice for profitable companies to take over unprofitable ones. I do not believe, therefore, that there is much logic to the Minister's argument in this regard. When a company gets into difficulty, a larger concern with expertise of a certain type will often take it over and make it profitable. Businesses tend to turn things around. Companies in the private sector do not usually sell off their cash cows - namely, divisions that are making a profit - at giveaway prices to rivals that might make them even more profitable. That is why there is very little logic to what the Minister is attempting to do here. I believe he knows that, as do the members of his party who voted a particular way at its 2012 annual conference. The Minister is aware that by privatising Bord Gáis, he will also be privatising Uisce Éireann. Of course, the latter is being made a subsidiary of the former.

The Minister knows the arguments and he is being somewhat disingenuous in his replies. Sinn Féin's alternative exists and has been costed. We can forward it to him if he wants to read it.