Dick Spring
Ceist:18 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Finance if the Government will publish a White Paper on the future of semi-State bodies as proposed by ICTU.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Semi-State Bodies.
The Government do not envisage publishing a White Paper on the State-sponsored bodies in the near future. Deputies will be aware of the Government's commitment to this sector, which does not require re-stating. I would refer Deputy Spring to the Programme for Government and the Programme for National Recovery, and in particular to the joint statement issued by the Government and ICTU following their meeting in this connection on 27 March last. The Deputy will also recognise that each company has different opportunities to exploit and different problems to confront, and that in consequence the detailed future of each of these bodies is best examined individually.
Would the Minister not be more honest if he came clean to the House and the nation on the issue of semi-State bodies and indicated quite clearly the ones he has lined up for privatisation, rather than indicating he will not publish a White Paper as suggested by the ICTU? Furthermore, would the Minister outline his plans on the privatisation of semi-State bodies? Will he indicate that clearly rather than say he will not publish a White Paper as suggested by ICTU? Can the Minister say what plans he has in hand for privatisation in his Department of any of the semi-State bodies?
At the meeting between the Government and ICTU on 27 March agreement was reached to set up a working party. That working party has already started its work. It is engaged in a speedy review and we expect them to report back at the earliest possible opportunity. Since that working party has started I have not heard the request for the publication of a White Paper being repeated. I am not dishonest to the House, and would like to reject that insinuation; I never have been dishonest to the House and I do not like that charge being levelled at anybody in this House.
I am not suggesting that the Minister is not honest. I am suggesting that he should be forthright and indicate the position to the House. In that context, can he assure the House that he does not have any plans for privatisation of any of the semi-State bodies at present?
That is a separate question. If the Deputy wants to put down another question I will answer it.
It is related to the question about plans for semi-State bodies.