Backbench TDs want access to budget forecasts

Government backbench TDs want access to budget forecasts and are insisting on sensitive economic documents being released to their offices ahead of decisions being made at Cabinet.

One Labour TD yesterday questioned why non-elected officials with the Government-appointed fiscal advisory council could access budget documents and deputies could not.

Dublin South East TD Kevin Humphreys has asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny and other senior ministers with the economic management council (EMC) to make the economic forecasts available to TDs. He said: “The Dáil should have equality of esteem with the Fiscal Council. The budgetary process needs to be more transparent, and the people’s representatives are entitled to this data, if an unelected council is also receiving it.”