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

I always listen to the advice of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, which is independent and gives its advice freely without any influence of the Government being brought to bear on it. We will follow the same approach on this occasion. It is a long way to the budget but we will be laying out the parameters of where I think the economy is going to go in the spring statement.

The Deputy has indeed brought up the expenditure benchmark on a number of occasions, but we have given him as much information as we have on all occasions. I would think that in comparison with the situation under other Administrations, the flow of necessary financial data to individual Deputies and to the finance committee is very strong. We have been quite transparent on these issues and can arrange for further briefing if that is necessary.

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