The Minister for Communications, the Marine and Natural Resources firmly ruled out the privatisation of the ESB.
"I have made it clear, and perhaps no other Minister has been as clear in this regard in recent years, that as far as this Government is concerned privatisation is not on the agenda," said Mr Ahern. "We regard the ESB as a national asset." He added that in the event of any change in the structure of the ESB, the Government would not countenance selling the network of wires and pipes.
Mr Ahern said all parties, including the ESB, would accept that the dominance of the ESB in the market had to be examined.
The Minister was speaking during the debate on the final stages of the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Bill, increasing the borrowing limits on the ESB.
