asked the Minister for Finance what steps have been taken, since his statement on the matter, to transfer certain State companies to private enterprise; what companies were considered in this connection; if any change in policy has taken place since his statement; and, if so, for what reasons.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transfer of State Companies.
27.
The examination of the feasibility of putting some of the capital of State-sponsored companies on the public market is still in progress. I do not think it would be desirable to enumerate the companies which have been considered in this connection. On this point, however, and on the question of Government policy, I would refer the Deputy to pages 238 and 239 —Chapter 11, paragraph 7—of the Second Programme for Economic Expansion, Part II, laid before each House of the Oireachtas in July, 1964. It was reaffirmed in that paragraph that the Government accept in principle that the public should be afforded further opportunities of participating in the share capital of such companies whenever it is established that such participation would be feasible on terms, and to an extent, not disadvantageous to the Exchequer or contrary to the general interest.
If the Minister is not prepared to name the companies concerned, will he at least indicate how many companies have been examined?
It would be very hard to have a summary, as it were, on that. All companies, of course, are examined. Some of them were pursued more seriously than others and in the end I would say there were three companies.
Has the examination gone on in respect of those three companies all the time since the Minister's statement?
We awaited a favourable opportunity, if you like.
Will the Minister undertake to inform the Dáil, as the first audience, if a specific decision is arrived at?
I am almost certain that in some cases legislation will be required. I do not know whether that will apply throughout.
I am not talking about legislation. If a general decision is taken on all, or a specific decision is applied to one company, I submit the Dáil should be first to know about it.
The Dáil will have an opportunity anyway because there will be a public announcement.
There will be a dinner.