Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Indeed.

Senator Coghlan raised his hardy annual, or hardy daily, which is the Great Southern Hotels group. He referred to the paintings therein, which have gone to de Veres for valuation. I cannot see those hotels being sold. There is a lot of mouthing going on about them but I do not know if they will ever be sold. It is like a perennial story with no ending.

Senator Mansergh mentioned Professor Drumm, who did not talk about privatisation. I thank Professor Drumm for the breakfast but I could not hear anybody who spoke there. It was all very low key. Senator Mansergh also said there was a zero subsidy figure for Luas and the RPA, which is great. The dear husband of one of our Senators — I am giving no names — is the chairman of the RPA.