53% want State companies to remain public

MORE than half the public want the Government to stop selling off State-owned companies, according to a survey by the Irish Examiner/Millward Brown IMS.

The public were asked which, if any, of the ESB, Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and An Post should be privatised.

The survey revealed that 53% want all to be preserved in public ownership. Those aged over 65 were particularly vehement, with 64% opposed to any more privatisation of the State companies.