Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would welcome the opportunity for the Minister, Deputy Noonan, to return next week, if possible. It would have been good to get the opportunity to ask him a question but I appreciate his time was limited.

The conversations we have had over the last number of meetings have centred around getting information early. It has been the general consensus that if we do not get information earlier, effectively, we will not make any substantial changes in how we conduct the budgetary process. The Minister, Deputy Noonan, outlined that early information may not be totally accurate, that it could lead to confusion and that there could be substantial variance between information received in July come September-October. However, given the weight and importance that this committee is attaching to getting information early, I suggest that while there may be teething problems and difficulties, it is worth trying to do that. If there are problems, let us review that for next year but we should at least endeavour to get that information. Taking on board the possibility that it may be inaccurate and lead to problems, it is worth trying to do it this year given that it has been the main topic for discussion over recent meetings.

I had a question for the Minister, Deputy Noonan, which his officials might relay to him. He felt there would be a serious conflict between getting accurate information and getting information early. If the Minister identifies clear obstacles to providing that information and says he cannot do that, he should tell us why. Perhaps this committee can offer some solutions to overcome that obstacle - that is what we are here for. Similarly, with the tax documents due to come out in mid-July, I would agree with Deputy Pearse Doherty that gives us very little time to digest that information. I appreciate the Minister stated we can sit through August - nobody has any difficulty with that - but changes would need to be made to facilitate us to assess those documents.

The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, stated he envisaged sectoral engagement would happen after the summer economic statement. Deputy Eamon Ryan, I suppose, was trying to make the point that what we are looking to do is engage effectively with the Departments and the proposals they are putting forward. The Minister did not go quite as far as saying we would get the opportunity to do that. The Minister, Deputy Noonan, before Deputy Donohoe spoke, suggested that we would be coming in after the tax strategy papers are produced and we would then get an opportunity to put forward proposals from the Opposition benches. I am merely looking for clarification as to when the Minister sees the sectoral committees engaging. At what point in that itinerary of events and publications does Deputy Donohoe see us coming in and will there be the opportunity for the sectoral committees to effectively engage with the Departments on their proposals, post the summer economic statement but prior to the mid-year expenditure report and the tax strategy papers?