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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Dec 1990

Vol. 404 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Availability of Statistical Information.

John Bruton

Ceist:

6 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Taoiseach the action he proposes to take on the recommendations for improving the availability of statistical and other factual information for policy making contained in Chapter 15 (3) of the National Economic and Social Council report, Strategy for the Nineties.

I have noted the views of the NESC in this matter and I have asked the National Statistics Board to examine and report on the various suggestions made by the NESC.

May I ask the Taoiseach when he asked the board to make this inquiry and when he expects to have their response?

I would have to have notice of those details. I hope that the National Statistics Board will give us a report as soon as possible.

May I ask the Taoiseach if he would consider furnishing a report to this House on the response of the National Statistics Board to this NESC study in view of the fact — I think he will agree with this point — that we have not had an adequate discussion in this House for years on whether statistical information available to us is what we need for policy making?

That is an excellent idea.

Will the Taoiseach do something about it?

I will ask the Taoiseach a similar question in four months.

I will do it.

I want to ask one question in relation to the accuracy of statistical information. Will the Taoiseach not agree that a very topical example of conflict in statistics was the difference between the recent CSO figures of a decline of 7 per cent in agricultural incomes and the figures of the official agency, the experts nearer to reality, Teagasc, which put the figure at 17 per cent, a differential of 10 per cent in a key area of economic activity?

The Deputy is referring to particular matters worthy of separate questions.

Doctors differ, patients die.

It is the same thing.

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