David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the secretariat paper which is very helpful and gives some shape to our work. This follows some confusion during the last meeting in which we were all involved. The paper has provided some welcome clarity. The Chairman's paper was also very helpful and I agree with much of what is in it.

There are a number of key issues which we need to discuss and consider in depth. First, we have a responsibility to establish a framework for what this new budgetary committee is to do. Part of that is on the agenda today. Second, there is the need for what is being called in the secretariat paper "a parliamentary budget office". This is referred to in the programme for Government as an "independent budget office". That is interesting because there are different opinions as to what independence means. It is something we need to also consider. Third, there are the interim measures we must take between now and the budget for 2017. We are not going to have all of this infrastructure in place for this year's budget.

To stay with the secretariat paper which I think is helpful, the Chairman mentioned that points 1, 2 and 3 are potentially what we should focus on today. In this regard points 5, 6 and 7 are very relevant to these first three points. If one looks at the Government's paper, which we will get to later, it is very good on issues such as greater engagement, more set-piece events and more information flow. All of that is great and we welcome it. Where it is weak is on suggestions as to what powers this committee will have. My reading of the terms of reference we were given is very clear that there will be no changes in terms of the Constitution or the law. Point 5 says that we need to look at the administrative, legal and constitutional issues. To ensure we do not waste time we need to be clear very early on about what we can and cannot do and what the terms of reference allow us to do.

We need to push the boat out. The issues we raise around money Bills, equality proofing, independence with regard to costings, economic projections and so on will be critically important. That will determine the success or otherwise of this committee. Unfortunately, points 5, 6 and 7 are inextricably linked to points 1, 2 and 3. Unless we receive clarity on these points, we are somewhat limited in terms of how we can shape the framework for the committee because we do not know what powers we have. We need to hear from the Government and the relevant Ministers. What do the Ministers think this committee is going to do? What powers do they think we should or should not have? What is their view of the independent costings unit? We are going to hear from the Secretaries General of the Departments. They might have a completely different view because there are many potential changes that could have an impact. We need to be clear in terms of a pathway. In the first instance we need information first from all of these stakeholders as that will help us to shape our decisions.