Peter O’Dwyer: Why BoI sell-off was the template for state reducing its AIB stake

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe may be tempted to launch a more ambitious sale of AIB shares in the new year

Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance, decided to sell off part of the state’s 71 per cent stake in AIB: ‘I am now announcing the restart of our phased exit from the state’s larger investment in AIB,’ he said. Picture: Rollingnews

Paschal Donohoe was adamant that we could and should read nothing into the progress the state was making in selling down its stake in Bank of Ireland, as it related to the taxpayer’s holdings in the other part-state-owned banks.

In truth, few believed him. And on Monday morning, the unsurprising news that the Minister for Finance had decided to sell off part of the state’s 71 per cent stake in AIB emerged from Government Buildings.