Sir, – The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) recently said that the Government had used “fiscal gimmickry” to flatter its budget numbers. The response from the Government is to propose to reduce the per-day rate paid to the chair and effectively demote the position (“Ireland’s budget watchdog accuses Government of pay proposals that would weaken its position”, Business, January 25th).
Surely the Government should ensure the effectiveness of Ifac instead of endeavouring to weaken its independence, which is of utmost importance. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK O’BYRNE,
Phibsborough,
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Dublin 7.
Sir, – Let’s hope that the report of unhappiness on the part of Ifac members at what they see as “pay proposals for its chair that would weaken the council and signal a lack of commitment to its work” does not become a serious issue.
No Government likes to be called out by its financial watchdog; correspondingly, no Government should attempt to exert pressure, if this is what the Ifac members believe this latest spat to be about.
We’ve seen over the years countless examples of undue pressure exerted by governments over its critics. The Department of Finance would do well not to be unduly heavy handed, as its intended response appears to be. It should recognise that fee rates for the Ifac chair maintained at 2010 levels are both unfair and unprofessional. It should just pay the proper per-day rate in accordance with the expanded role required by the OECD. – Yours, etc,
ALASTAIR CONAN,
Coulsdon,
UK.
