Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I move amendment No. 18:

In page 10, paragraph 1, lines 5 and 6, to delete subparagraph (2) and substitute the following:
"(2) Subject to paragraph 3, the members of the Fiscal Council shall be nominated by the Minister and appointed subject to approval by the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform.".

Amendment No. 18 is a very simple amendment. As the Bill stands, the Minister has sole nominating rights and simply appoints the members of the fiscal advisory council. This amendment is intended to ensure that in future, persons are nominated by the Minister but that the appointments would be subject to the approval of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform.

Since the Government came into office, there have been some moves to involve Oireachtas committees in the appointment of members and chairpersons to various boards. It has not been uniform across the board but it has happened in some instances. Involving the joint committee would be a positive step and would strengthen the independence of the fiscal advisory council because it would not be solely appointed by the Ministers. Members of all parties and of no party would have an opportunity to question the intended nominees to the council, which would be a good thing.

I have commended the Minister on the persons he appointed to the current council but that is not to say that in the future, Ministers will get it right. It is an additional safeguard to involve the joint committee and give it the approval power in regard to the nomination.