Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Gallagher is correct in saying I have asked this question previously. I am genuinely concerned. I am not concerned about our Department of Finance assessing political proposals from me or the Government or whoever, because the officials appear before the committee and there is, at least, some parliamentary oversight. We have got a group of people - civil servants, economists, PhDs, social scientists and so on - and I do not know to whom they report, their level of competency, or what parliamentary oversight they have and given that they will make countries' specific recommendations which are essentially binding I am concerned. If I could have a report back on that issue that would be useful.