The Energy, Communications and Natural Resources Minister has confirmed that the Government intends to maintain majority state ownership in the transmission and distribution networks of ESB and Bord Gáis if they are sold.
Pat Rabbitte said that no decisions had yet been made on any proposed sell-off, but added the Government did not want a repeat of what had happened in Eircom.
"You can't allow a situation where people can start trading in the networks because they can make profit and profit and profit again and they can then starve the infrastructure of the necessary investment," he said.
Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has said the Government still has to decide if it will sell its 25% stake in Aer Lingus. He said if the Government goes ahead with the sale, it will only be sold to the right buyer at the right price.
The Minister, who was attending ceremonies at Ireland West Airport at Knock in Co Mayo, said Aer Lingus shares would not be appearing on eBay in the morning.
Traffic passing through the airport increased by 10% last year and it handled 650,00 passengers.
Ministers reject Stark's call for more austerity
Minister Rabbitte also dismissed calls by the outgoing chief economist of the European Central Bank, Juergen Stark, for Ireland to increase its austerity measures.
"I think arguments that we should further depress the economy because of an inflexible ideological position is not the way to go,'' he said.
