asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the long delay in forming an economic council to replace the NIEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Economic Council.
10.
The period since the dissolution of the NIEC has been taken up with discussions with a wide range of interested bodies on the constitution and terms of reference of the proposed new council. I am satisfied that there has been no undue delay in these discussion.
Why did it take so long then?
Because they are wide ranging. There are a number of parties involved and a number of fairly broad issues.
What new issues arose that had not arisen in relation to NIEC?
That is another question. I would prefer not to deal with that at the moment until the matter is finalised.
Would the Minister agree that discussion of these issues was a reason for some of the delay?
Of course, it was one of the reasons. That is not what the Deputy asked.
Could the Minister say when, in fact, the previous council ceased to operate?
I cannot tell the Deputy offhand.
The Minister has a very weak brief. Surely that is a most obvious question.
That may be so in the Deputy's view; it is not necessarily so in everybody's view.
Would the Minister agree that the period was of the order of nine months and that that is, in fact, a very long period for consultations of that kind?
No, I do not think so, having regard to the consultations involved and the parties concerned.