asked the Minister for Energy the total fee paid already or which will become due for payment to a company (details supplied) in Dublin 2 in connection with the disposal by the State of its shareholding in Tara Mines; if he has satisfied himself that this fee compares favourably with the normal fee payable for such transactions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To date no fee has been paid to the company in question. The amount payable will be equivalent to 1.5 per cent plus VAT of the value of the transaction which involves an initial payment of US $37.5 million and a further US $12.5 million payable on a deferred basis. I am satisfied that the fee payable is in line with those generally applied to similar transactions.