Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for withdrawing his amendment. We are providing for the formal establishment of the council in legislation. The council has already been hugely proactive and constructive in the assessments and reports it has issued. Now that the council is in place, the Government is required to respond quickly to its assessments. I had to defend the Government in such circumstances on two occasions in the last 12 months. I expect that the Senator has some sympathy with the fiscal council's view that the adjustment should be bigger. The council's statements immediately put the Government on the spot. It is a good thing that the Government has to justify quickly the parameters used when setting a budget or the rationale used for a particular adjustment. That will help the entire political culture to change over a period of time. We will have to make sure we reflect on these matters before we make decisions.

I have described previously in this House some of the dreadful examples of projects in various areas that were driven purely by politics with no long-term benefit to the country. I know Senator Barrett has spoken about this in the past. That whole culture will change as a result of the establishment of the fiscal council and the requirement on the Government and others to reply to what the council has to say. When the council issues a public view, the Government and others have to reply to it. That will help the political and economic culture by ensuring we have a more sustainable economy in the long run.