Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Committee on Budgetary Oversight
Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council
5:00 pm
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the delegation and I wish Professor McHale well. I would like to explore the council's proposals for capital spending. The flexibilities suggested may not be flexibilities judging by Professor McHale's exchange with Deputy Doherty. The council proposes a new limit for such spending. Capital spending is becoming a major constraint on the growth of the economy and the current capital plan is not sufficient to deliver the infrastructure the country needs. How would the council's proposal work? Would more investment capital be released? Would it result in a greater capacity to borrow?