Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the process in 2020, it has been a truly extraordinary year, the like of which we hope we will never see again. It certainly had a dramatic impact on the budgetary process. I have acknowledged that the mid-year expenditure report was not published at the normal time. In addition, the Oireachtas did not have the normal summer economic statement setting out the overall macroeconomic and fiscal projections. That was certainly missed as well. The truth is that events unfolded extremely quickly through the year. Certainly since I came into office there have been very rapid changes in circumstances and the Government has had to respond in an equally rapid manner. There are improvements that can be made to the process, even to the normal process which we did not have this year. I will engage with the Committee on Budgetary Oversight to bring about further enhancements to the budgetary oversight process because the Oireachtas should have an advanced role in that regard.

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