Noonan begins talks with EU on using asset sales to create jobs

THE Government began discussions with the EU and the IMF about putting money from the expected sale of at least €2 billion of state assets in growth and job creation.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan raised the issue with ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet and Commissioner Olli Rehn in a 30-minute meeting during the EU finance ministers get-together in Poland at the weekend.

The minister will discuss the matter with the IMF during their annual meeting in Washington this week in an attempt to convince them to depart from the tacit understanding attached to the country’s €67.5bn bailout that any additional money would go towards cutting the country’s debt.