Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 11:

In page 8, subsection (4), between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:"(a) provide an assessment of whether the fiscal and budgetary policy of the Government is contributing to economic growth, job creation, the delivery of high quality public services, greater income equality, social inclusion and poverty reduction,".

I will not go on about this as we have discussed it in earlier contributions. It relates to the fiscal council. I welcome the establishment of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the more independent analysis we have, the better. I have been critical of some of the recommendations but that should not read as an objection to the establishment of the council. Nevertheless, its terms of reference as outlined in the Bill are restrictive, and there is a limit on the ability of the council to assist this and future Governments in making the right decisions.

My amendment would put issues such as stimulating economic growth, job creation, delivering high quality public service and promoting income equality and poverty reduction into the remit of the council so that assessments of fiscal matters would detail the impact of various policy options in crucial social and economic indicators. I also support the amendments which Deputy Michael McGrath will speak to.