Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy made these points previously. When one establishes an agency to do a particular job, it is advisable to let it do the job rather than treat it as an empty train carriage onto which other policy options can be loaded. The ESRI already evaluates the areas suggested by Deputy Doherty, as does the National Economic and Social Council.

The Fiscal Council has been instituted to do a particular job, which it is doing well. We had a committee debate at which Deputies, particularly Deputies Doherty and McGrath, said the Department of Finance should give fuller responses on its advice, and we have taken that advice on board. Our next publication will have a fuller response to the advice of the council. However, I am not taking this piece of advice on board, because the council has a particular job to do and I want to let it do it.

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