Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

When I ask this question, I am very aware that I am talking to representatives from the Departments. I do not mean to put the witnesses in a difficult position, but I want to touch on the issue of whether the indexation should be statutory or in legislation, and the potential advantages and disadvantages of that. I am working on the assumption that there would be get-out or set-aside clauses in it. I am not talking about legislation that could in any way be constrained by that. It is perhaps a larger issue than just this piece on indexation. Obviously, we have talked about well-being budgets in here, which is policy and not statutory. We can see that in other areas of the EU and, for example, in the UK, there is a Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. I am wondering if it is fair to ask the question. From the various Departments' points of view, is there a difference in the implementation of something that is statutory and something that is not?