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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Dec 2016

Vol. 933 No. 2

Standing Orders: Motion

I move:

That, in accordance with the recommendation of the sub-Committee on Dáil Reform under Standing Order 107(1)(a), the Standing Orders of Dáil Éireann relative to Public Business be amended by the adoption of the following Standing Order:

‘186A. (1) There shall stand established as soon as may be, following the reassembly of the Dáil subsequent to a General Election, a Standing Committee, to be known as the Committee on Budgetary Oversight, to examine and, where it considers it appropriate, report to the Dáil on—

(a) the overall fiscal position, including—

(i) the aggregated position on revenue and expenditure and the General Government Balance, including structural targets;

(ii) medium-term projections for the public finances;

(iii) macro-economic forecasts and developments; and

(iv) general fiscal governance including the application of fiscal rules and risks to the fiscal position;

(b) public expenditure policy, including—

(i) the expenditure position having regard to the Government Expenditure Ceiling and the expenditure benchmark under the Stability and Growth Pact; and

(ii) Ministerial Expenditure Ceilings applying to individual Estimates or groups of Estimates for the Public Services where significant variations from the expenditure profile could potentially impact on the overall fiscal position;

(c) Exchequer receipts policy.

(2) The Committee may consider a matter of public policy with significant impact on the budgetary position or on the overall fiscal position: Provided that prior to the commencement of such consideration, the Chairman of the Committee shall consult with the relevant sectoral Committee established pursuant to Standing Order 84A.

(3) The Committee may also consider the overall framework for parliamentary engagement throughout the course of the budgetary cycle and may make recommendations thereon to the sub-Committee on Dáil Reform for that Committee’s consideration under Standing Order 107(1)(b): Provided that, in so doing, the Committee shall consult with—

(a) the Committees established pursuant to Standing Order 84A on any recommendations which, in the opinion of the Committee, impact on their role or remit; and

(b) the relevant Minister or Ministers on any recommendations which, in the opinion of the Committee, impact on the role or remit of a Department or Departments,

and shall notify the results of such consultations to the sub-Committee on Dáil Reform.

(4) The Committee shall have the following powers:

(a) power to send for persons, papers and records as defined in Standing Orders 85(2A) and 88;

(b) power to take oral and written evidence and submissions as defined in Standing Order 85(1) and (2);

(c) power to appoint sub-Committees as defined in Standing Order 85(3);

(d) power to engage consultants as defined in Standing Order 85(8);

(e) power to travel as defined in Standing Order 85(9).

(5) Every report which the Committee proposes to make shall, on adoption by the Committee, be laid before the Dáil forthwith, whereupon the Committee shall be empowered to print and publish such report, together with such related documents it thinks fit.

(6) The Committee shall consist of fifteen Members, none of whom shall be a member of the Government or a Minister of State, and four of whom shall constitute a quorum: Provided that—

(a) the Committee and any sub-Committees which it may appoint shall be constituted so as to be impartially representative of the Dáil; and

(b) the provisions of Standing Order 95 shall apply to the Committee.

(7) Until further notice in the 32nd Dáil, the Select Committee on Budgetary Oversight, established by Order of the Dáil of 21st July, 2016, shall continue in being as the Standing Committee on Budgetary Oversight, and accordingly, the current membership, Chairman, papers and work programme of the Select Committee shall be those of the Standing Committee.’.”

Question put and agreed to.
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