Vol. 521 No. 4
6 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Public Enterprise whether it is still her intention to pursue an IPO for Aer Rianta in the lifetime of this Government; if she will clarify the current uncertainty about the future ownership of Aer Rianta and the Great Southern Hotel Group; and if it is to be retained in full State ownership for the foreseeable future. [17367/00]
As the Deputy is aware, the issues surrounding the future strategic direction of Aer Rianta are complex and of great importance for the company itself, its employees and, most critically, its customers. In this context, I am continuing to give consideration to the Warburg Dillon Read report.
An IPO for Aer Rianta has been recommended and that option continues to form part of my overall consideration of the best strategic direction for the company.
Is the Minister aware of a recent report in the Irish Examiner that she does not intend to proceed with the partial sale of Aer Rianta in the lifetime of the Government?
She will not be let.
Will she comment on that report? Will she explicitly state her position on the future ownership of the Great Southern Hotel Group or is Deputy Healy-Rae still the boss as far as that matter is concerned?
More than one Deputy represents areas in which hotels are located.
None more important.
We consider all our Deputies important and Deputy Healy-Rae is an Independent.
We are dealing with Priority Questions and other Deputies should not intervene.
However, Deputy Healy-Rae is as important in terms of status as any other Deputy.
The Minister must be careful to say that.
As I said in reply to other questions, my belief is that the sale of the Great Southern Hotel Group is not imminent. I cannot put it more plainly.
Regarding the report in the Irish Examiner, I understand from the director of information in my Department that she intended to say the Warburg Dillon Read report mentioned two years in the context of the partial privatisation. Even with the best will in the world, that is outside the lifetime of the Government, although we intend to stay in office until 2002.
I will not comment on the Minister's final remark because it is becoming a mantra. I do not intend to pay much attention to that matter. The Minister said the sale of the Great Southern Hotel Group was not imminent. However, that is not what she was asked. I know the sale is not imminent for the reason I suggested. However, will it happen? Does she agree there is a suggestion that the £90,000 expenditure on consultancy regarding the Warburg Dillon Read report was a waste of money?
It was not a waste of £90,000. I do not envisage the sale of the Great Southern Hotel Group. The Deputy is correct that Deputy Healy-Rae made representations on that matter, but so did Deputy Stagg and members of the trade union movement, whom I met on several occasions to discuss it. My colleagues in Government, including the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue, and others, also referred to it. There is no secret about that.
