Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 13, inclusive, together.

The economic policy unit is part of the economic division of the Department. The unit assists me, as Taoiseach, in advancing the Government’s economic priorities. The unit also advises me on a broad range of economic policy areas and provides me with briefing and speech material on economic and related policy matters. It assists the delivery of the Government’s economic commitments as outlined in the programme for Government, especially where these cut across multiple Departments. In particular, it assists the work of the Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment and several related senior officials' groups.

The unit is also responsible for co-ordinating Ireland’s participation in the European semester process, which is the annual cycle of economic and fiscal policy co-ordination among EU member states. This includes preparing the national reform programme each year for submission to the European Commission. The national reform programme provides an overview of economic reforms and policy actions under way in Ireland. This includes those taken in response to country-specific recommendations received. The unit is also responsible for liaison with the Central Statistics Office, CSO.

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