25 Apr 2012, 15:44
The Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform will discuss the latest Fiscal Assessment Report with representatives of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council at its meeting tomorrow, Thursday, 26th April.
The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council was established in June 2011, as part of a wider agenda of reform of Ireland’s budgetary architecture. The role of the Council is to independently assess, and comment publicly on, whether the Government is meeting its own stated budgetary targets and objectives. It assesses the appropriateness and soundness of the Government’s macroeconomic projections, budgetary projections and fiscal stance.
In its most recent report, the Council warned that the Government was in danger of breaching its budgetary targets. It said that the weakening international growth outlook raised concerns about the Government’s ability to reach its budget deficit target of 8.6% of GDP. It warned that more measures and cuts may be necessary.
Committee chairman Alex White, TD said: “There is much to consider in the latest report from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. We are looking forward to a lively and open discussion with the representatives from the Council at our meeting tomorrow. It will offer Members a chance to engage with the Council and raise any issues they have in relation to the report.”
This meeting will take place tomorrow, Thursday, 26th April, in Committee Room 4, Leinster House 2000 at 2pm.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/ViewDoc.asp?fn=/documents/livewebcast/Web-Live.htm&CatID=83&m=o
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
TDs
Alex White (LAB) (Chairman)
Richard Boyd-Barrett (IND)
Michael Creed (FG)
Jim Daly (FG)
Pearse Doherty (SF)
Stephen Donnelly (IND)
Timmy Dooley (FF)
Sean Fleming (FF)
Joe Higgins (IND)
Heather Humphreys (FG)
Kevin Humphreys (LAB)
Peter Mathews (FG)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (SF)
Mary Lou McDonald (SF)
Michael McGrath (FF)
Michael McNamara (LAB)
Olivia Mitchell (FG)
Kieran O’Donnell (FG)
Arthur Spring (LAB)
Billy Timmins (FG)
Liam Twomey (FG) (Vice-Chair)
Senators
Sean D. Barrett (IND)
Thomas Byrne (FF)
Michael D’Arcy (FG)
Aideen Hayden (LAB)
Tom Sheahan (FG)
Katherine Zappone (IND)