Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 30 November 2022

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council

Mr. Sebastian Barnes:

There is a set of things that are connected to each other. I do not think it is particularly related to planning. That is more about identifying areas. We know there will be big pressures on spending. The Tax and Welfare Commission has had a thorough look at the tax side and what options might be there. We need something symmetric on the spending side to see what options might be there. Then people can take a view as to the balance they want. A silent pressure is coming from everyday spending where money is being spent without value for money being considered in a rigorous way.