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"Tube":1eoxlew5 wrote: That's a fair shot in the arm for the GH lads.[/quote:1eoxlew5]That makes it an argument for Aidan and Ronan to buy the pubs, not the State.

"Tube" wrote: Bord Bia - well why not.[/scale]The cost-benefit just isn't good enough. It's too small and specific a project for an organisation with a wide-ranging and global remit.

If the State really wanted to help Irish business with this, they would offer it first to an Irish business at a competitive rate, but a) that would just mean Louis Fitzgerald or the like would buy it and b) they probably can't do that anyway under EU free trade law.

"TheBeerNut":3em01zxw wrote: The cost-benefit just isn't good enough.[/quote:3em01zxw]
These pubs will probably be sold at a significant write down over the finance owed on them.

I just think a bit of leadership and imagination could put them to better use and get them to return a dividend.

Ironically there is a business case for some enterprise to buy them. Problem is no small enterprise can afford them, whereas the state already owns them.

"Tube":2mw8zhxm wrote: I just think a bit of leadership and imagination could put them to better use and get them to return a dividend.[/quote:2mw8zhxm]Exactly. That's precisely why the Irish government will take the loss rather than turn the pubs into a living, profit-making advert for Ireland and her produce. I couldn't have put it better myself.