The Department of Finance has not incurred costs in relation to external advice provided for the proposed sale of Bord Gáis Energy. I am informed by the New Economy and Recovery Authority (NewERA) that legal and financial advisers to Government on the sale of Bord Gáis Energy were engaged by NewERA after competitive tendering processes. It was announced on Thursday 12 December that a preferred bidder has been selected for the sale. This announcement noted that completion of the transaction is expected to take place in the first half of 2014. As the amount of fees payable is related to the successful completion of the transaction, full details cannot be provided until then.