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.”

Currently, the fiscal council receives the forecasts three weeks before the budget in electronic form as well as a presentation from staff with the Department of Finance. More precise forecasts are then given to the council two weeks before budget day which set out provisional final forecasts including the total impact of spending cuts or increases, tax cuts or increases planned for the following year.

One of the functions of the council is to decide on whether or not it endorses the economic projections supplied by the department. Its decision is contained in a letter that will not be published until the budget is being announced.

“This means an unelected body will know the total adjustment in the budget before TDs and possibly the Cabinet,” said Mr Humphreys.

His letter was also circulated to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Finance Minister Michael Noonan and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin, the other three members of the EMC.

Mr Humphreys said the Coalition should be moving towards a more open and transparent budget.