Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:171. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will list, in tabular form, all State-owned companies and companies that the State has shares in. [44741/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 15 December 2015
Ceisteanna (171)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, State-owned companies are used for a variety of reasons including, for example, not for profit companies established to achieve certain policy objectives or implement certain government policies via a separate and distinct implementation body, with its own appropriate corporate governance framework. At the other end of the scale, the State also owns a much smaller group of companies, generally referred to as commercial State bodies, which operate in the market place on a commercial basis. Some State companies, in turn, establish further subsidiary companies for commercial or operational reasons.
In the timeframe available to me for responding to the Deputy's question - in light of the detailed and extensive review and consultative process required - it would be very challenging for my Department to produce a definitive comprehensive list of every company which has been established by any Government Department or agency or State body.
However, a list and detailed examination of the companies in the commercial state sector - which is the area for which I am primarily responsible - was set out in the Report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities published by my Department in April 2011. There has been some restructuring of the sector since that report was produced, notably in relation to Ervia (formerly Bord Gáis Éireann), Coillte and Bord na Móna, but the only significant addition since that report is the establishment of Irish Water in 2013.