Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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There is something worthwhile in what the clerk to the committee has laid out in his memorandum. The first positive thing we could do is make a formal recommendation that we establish a parliamentary budget office. Nothing will happen until things like that are done. No matter what we do after our first meeting, it will be necessary. We can begin by making a strong recommendation, following this meeting, that a parliamentary budget office be established.

Another recommendation relates to opportunities for engagement. A decision taken on 24 May shows that the Government want to engage with the committee through publication of the summer economic statement in mid-June and the pre-budget expenditure report in July. Something has to be done about that. We should recommend that formal structures are set up to begin that process.

Today's meeting could result in two formal proposals from a committee that was constituted to discuss structures. I would like to put that to the committee. I do not want to be arrogant about making formal proposals. Rather, I would like to get agreement. We could establish some basic things today.