The privatisation of the ESB, CIE, Bord Gais and An Post is to be considered in a Department of Finance review of state assets and liabilities.
UCD Economist Colm McCarthy will lead a team of three to examine how the commercial semi-state sector can be best used to stimulate job creation and support economic recovery.
The other members of the group are Donal McNally, second secretary general of the Department of Finance, and Alan Matthews, Professor of European Agricultural Policy at Trinity College Dublin.
In total, 28 different semi-states are to be examined.
The group has already begun its work and will focus at the outset on assets and liabilities in the commercial state sector.
The group has been asked to provide an interim report to Mr Lenihan before the end of the year.
As part of the review process, all relevant stakeholders will be consulted and submissions from the public and interested parties will be sought.
A preliminary list of the assets to be reviewed by the group is available on the Department of Finance website.
