State's fiscal watchdog criticises Government for breaching own spending rules

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council said the Government’s recent Summer Economic Statement "risks making high prices more persistent"

IFAC has said additional spending in the forthcoming budget undermines “undermines the credibility of the Government’s plans and the spending rule itself”. 

The State’s fiscal watchdog has sharply criticised the Government’s recent Summer Economic Statement saying it “undermines” their own spending rules and risks adding to inflationary pressures.

On Tuesday, the Government released its summer economic statement which would see core expenditure grow by 6.1% in the forthcoming budget, exceeding its own rule of limiting spending increases to 5% per year.