The Finance Minister admits it will take a number of years before the State is recouped for its AIB bailout money.
The State plans to sell part of its 71.1% stake in the bank over the next six months, with Davy expecting the State’s share to decline to 68% once the sale is complete.
Just half of the bank's €20.8 billion bailout has been returned to taxpayers so far.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Paschal Donohoe says it will be a number of years before Ireland receives the rest of that money back.
He explained: “I’m only indicating at this point that we will sell a very small share in AIB over the first six months of next year - if the price is above a certain level and if the number of shares we’re going to sell doesn’t have a big impact on trading of the share overall.
“Ultimately, to recoup back the money we put into AIB - which is going to take longer than I would have hoped, due to changes that have happened in the stock market and the valuation of banks - we do need to get that share trading again.”
Minister Donohoe said he believes this sale will be necessary to get more of that massive bailout back over time.
He said there’s “every prospect” of getting the money back, but it will take time.
He said: “I do believe we will be able to get that money back, but I also think it’s fair to say at this point that it’s going to take a number of years before we can do that.”
Minister Donohoe has said he expects the sale of AIB shares to "be slower than what we’ve seen at Bank of Ireland".
