Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Committee on Budgetary Oversight is a new committee. I want to acknowledge the work of the parliamentary budget office and particularly salute its ability to supply members with information, and to acknowledge the comprehensive level of information it has given us. There are two issues, the first of which is the timely availability of information from the Department of Finance to aid the members of the committee in its work, particularly on issues such as the fiscal space. I would be interested in hearing the views of the Taoiseach on that. The other issue is the OECD general principle of moving away from the "big bang" budget and moving towards a year round budgeting process which enables the type of ex antescrutiny the committee works on to take place throughout the year. I would be interested to hear whether or not the Taoiseach supports that.