Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As committee members will be aware, financial data was transmitted to other European parliaments in advance of the budget last year, most notably to the Bundestag. It was a matter of deep concern in this country that information related our budgetary process was to be reviewed and commented upon in a parliament other than our own.

As members of the committee are aware, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has since agreed a memorandum of understanding with the Government. As a result, it will receive significant information in advance of the budget to allow it to cast its judgment on the forecasts and on the impact of the information on the budget. For that reason, it is my view and the view of the Fianna Fáil Party that the information in question, including the forecast data and any explanatory presentations by the Minister or his officials, should be provided to Members of the Dáil. The most effective way of doing that in the first instance would be to provide the information to this committee. It can be provided on a confidential basis, in the same way that it is provided to the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council , if there are issues with regard to it. I am making the case for my party's proposal, as outlined in the motion, which is that all information contained in the memorandum of understanding with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council should be provided to this committee. That is the essence of what is contained in the motion before the committee.