Criticism of spending outside exchequer figures

Public spending is more elevated that the exchequer figures suggest and there is little confidence the Government has a grip over health spending after long years of spending over-runs, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has warned.

In its full assessment of Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe’s October budget, the fiscal watchdog also said the Brexit threat, although lessened, still hangs over the economy and that any final trade deal struck between the UK and the EU could be worse in terms of trade for Ireland than was once anticipated.