Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is vital that this Dáil is involved at every stage of the budget process, reviewing capital plans. We agreed this less than a year ago. The Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, at the time said that we should look at what the OECD is saying and bring in the best analysis. The OECD said clearly that we need a budget oversight capability, budget office and economics office within the Parliament to assist in this review process. We agreed to that eight or nine months ago, but nothing has happened since. What is the Minister's Department doing? What is its role? What grade does the Minister think should be head of this office? When will it happen? Why has it taken nine months not to do something that is critical, in my mind, for analysis in the whole economic area?

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