Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2012
265 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it his intention to propose the disposal of Bord Gáis electricity generation and-or supply as part of the programme for Government commitment to sell off State assets. [7870/12]
View answer266 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform , following the statement by An Taoiseach to Dáil Éireann on 24 January 2012 that the Government has made a formal decision in respect of the ESB assets, if it intends to sell to private interests; and when he intends to relay this information to Dáil Éireann. [7891/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.
As I have previously informed the House, the matters referred to in the Deputy's questions have been examined by two inter-departmental groups: one group examined the ESB part-sale and the second examined other assets, including Bord Gáis Éireann, in order to inform any further decisions that the Government may wish to take. Although the reports of these groups have been considered and discussed by relevant Ministers, they have not yet been considered by the Government as a whole.
I have also had a series of discussions with the EU/ECB/IMF Troika on these matters, and I am pleased to report that significant progress has been made, particularly on the issue of the use to which the proceeds generated from any assets sales will be put. I expect the Government to shortly be in a position to make a final decision on the scale and composition of the asset disposal programme to be pursued and when this is finalised the House will be fully briefed on these matters.
