Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests and thank them for the excellent resource that is available to the committee as we examine the budget and our forward trajectory.

I will ask a couple of questions in the time permitted. Regarding the Government's forecast deficit of 5.9% of GNI* in 2021, the council writes: "The balance could ultimately be more favourable than forecast in Budget 2022, with possible current and capital underspends and higher–than–forecast revenue likely." The latest fiscal monitor, which was published in November, shows that tax receipts to the end of November were €5.3 billion ahead of target and expenditure was €2.6 billion below target. What is the council's updated forecast for the 2021 deficit or has it done one yet?