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KENMARE CONFERENCE:THE GOVERNMENT should auction off radio spectrum, carbon permits and other assets to the highest bidder to help plug the hole in public finances, but the recession may still last into 2010, the Kenmare economic conference was told last night.

In an opening session dominated by the deteriorating health of the public finances, UCD economist Colm McCarthy and Rossa White, chief economist at Davy Research, said auctioning off intangible assets such as commercial radio and mobile phone licences at their next renewal date should be part of Government strategy to reduce the worsening deficit in the general Government balance (GGB).