Opposition calls for halt to sale of certain State assets

The Government is coming under pressure from opposition parties in the Dáil to halt its plans for the sale of certain State assets.

A debate is underway on plans to sell 'non-strategic' State assets as part of the deal agreed with the troika.

So far the Government has committed to selling €2bn worth, but it is believed the troika wants to see considerably more sold off.

Representatives of the EU, IMF and ECB are in Ireland this week for talks with Government, where it is expected the sale of State assets will be discussed.

In the Dáil, Fianna Fáil's Eamon O'Cuiv said such a move now will cause problems in the future.

Mr O'Cuiv said: "Say you sell 20%, I think there is a huge temptation when you are short of money in the future in government to say 'don't cut back here, don't put on extra taxes, just sell another slice lads, it's handy, it's painless'.

"And then another slice, and then another slice, and then another slice until some day the whole slice will be gone."