Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Pre-Budget Engagement (Resumed): Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and Nevin Economic Research Institute

Professor Michael McMahon:

In aggregate, the economy does not require extra stimulus. We are getting cooling in the economy from monetary policy. Trying to counteract that with highly stimulatory fiscal policy will simply exacerbate the extent of the price and wage pressures in the near term. Within that aggregate, however, there is plenty of scope for individual policies in a net sense not to stimulate the economy but to make transfers or invest in certain areas. That requires choices, however, and they are hard choices.