Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are making progress. It took from 1922 to 2010 to recruit 39 economists. That is a rate of less than one every two years. In the 23 months since publication of the relevant report in 2010, we have recruited a further 60. I compliment the Minister for Finance on bringing the number up from 39 to 99. That is progress. The people concerned should, of course, possess the relevant expertise. I agree with the Minister of State that the five recruited prior to our dealing with this legislation are top class. Everybody acknowledges that fact. They all appeared before the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and the members thereof who come from different sides of both Houses accepted their bona fides. It is critical that we find people with the necessary expertise. We need not just the 60 individuals who have been recruited, we also require additional and similarly qualified individuals for other spending Departments. Is there a health economist in the Department of Health? Is there anyone in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport who possesses expertise in economics? It was the position in respect of the latter that caused two people to write an article in a Sunday newspaper in which they stated contrarian views were required.

There are huge budgets at stake and they are being spent by a very small number of qualified individuals. Admittedly, we are moving in the right direction. I commend the Minister for Finance on more than doubling the number of suitably qualified staff in the 23 months since Mr. Wright published his report in December 2010. The improvements are commendable. Economics for amateurs got us into the current mess. However, we are not going to proceed further down that road. The Fiscal Advisory Council has a vital role to play in that regard. As indicated, I want the economists recruited by the State to provide advice to display the same professionalism as that shown by veterinarians, doctors and architects. This is an important matter and we need the level of expertise to which I refer. I commend the Minister for Finance on the improvements he has made through recruiting an additional 60 suitably qualified individuals into his Department. I hope similarly qualified individuals will be recruited into other major spending Departments in order that we will not repeat the mistakes of the past.