Mr. Sebastian Barnes:

The stability programme, which is what our report in April was based on, was put together with great speed and at a very complicated time by the Department of Finance. I think the Department did a good job in this regard.

In terms of our engagement, because the council is independent and also places a high weight on transparency, we do not have separate meetings in private with the Government or Government officials. We produce our reports. That is where our advice is available to the Minister but also to Deputies and anyone else in the country. We do not have that kind of relationship to Government. We communicate through the public advice that we provide.