The Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has established an expert group to assess the scale and value of the assets and liabilities of the State.
The group will “focus at the outset on assets and liabilities in the commercial state sector,” Mr Lenihan said today.
Under the terms of reference the group will look at the potential to sell off assets in the public sector, including commercial state bodies.
It will also draw up a list of possible assets for disposal, assess how the use and disposal of assets can best help restore growth and contribute to national investment priorities and review relevant investment and financing plans affecting such assets.
Some of the commercial state bodies to be reviewed include RTÉ, ESB, Bord Gáis Irish Rail, Dublin Airport Authority and An Post.
The group will be chaired by economist Colm McCarthy, who produced the “Bord Snip Nua” report last year recommending more than €5 billion in public expenditure cuts. Other members include Donal McNally, second secretary general at the Department of Finance and Alan Matthews professor of European agricultural policy at Trinity College Dublin.
They are expected to provide an interim report to the Minister before the end of the year.
List of State agencies to be examined by the review group
Dublin Airport Authority (incl. Cork and Shannon Airport)
CIE
Dublin Bus
Irish Rail
Bus Eireann
Irish Aviation Authority
Dublin Port Company
Cork Port Company
Drogheda Port Company
Galway Port Company
Waterford Port Company
Shannon Foynes Port Company
Wicklow Port Company
New Ross Port Company
Dundalk Port Company
Dún Laoighaire Harbour Company
ESB
Bord Gais Eireann
Bord Na Mona
Eirgrid
An Post
RTE
TG4
National Oil Reserves Agency
Coillte
Horse Racing Ireland
Irish National Stud Company Ltd.
Bord Na gCon