Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 16 June 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

Covid-19: Impact on the Fiscal Position

Mr. Sebastian Barnes:

We do not have a specific view. One of the conditions of stimulus is that it should be targeted as much as possible, and I think the approach the Deputy laid out is sensible. Some sectors will get through this crisis quite quickly or will recover fast, whereas tourism or those that depend on people's behaviour and confidence in going out are likely to be weaker for much longer. A big issue is tourism and whether people will be willing to fly to Ireland and in what numbers. The Deputy is correct that an approach that is in some ways targeted would be constructive.