'State must not be rushed' if selling assets

Ireland should not allow itself to be rushed into selling State assets, according to Bord Gais CEO John Mullins.

Addressing up to 1,000 guests at last night's annual Cork Chamber of Commerce dinner, the current president of the business group said there were mixed feelings about any potential sale.

It was reported in January that the State's holdings in Bord Gais, Coillte, Aer Lingus, the ESB, and Dublin Port could be sold.

John Mullins said if any sale does take place it only should happen if the full market value can be obtained.

Mr Mullins told the audience at the dinner: "It would be better to sell these assets at a better time, at a time when we know that there are a healthy number of buyers and when the markets are actually in a better place.

"But it is also important that a reserve price is set for those assets and no lower should we go on these assets, because they are owned by all of you in this room and all of the other rooms across the country."