The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council was established after the last time the Tánaiste served in government, when his party wrecked the economy and brought the IMF to our shores. Yesterday, the council, which is the State's budget watchdog, wrote to the Minister for Finance following the Government's plan to cut the pay rate of the chair of the council. Professor Michael McMahon, the council's acting chairperson, criticised the proposal in this regard and warned that it could diminish the role of the budget watchdog. He also said such a move could risk damaging the fiscal credibility of the State. The Tánaiste will be aware, as many of us are, that this comes a month after the council criticised the Government for its fiscal gimmickry in the recent budget. It criticised the levels of underfunding of public services, particularly in health. Some economists have commented that it is hard to see what the Government is doing as anything other than an attempt to stifle criticism of the Government.

Why was this decision made? What is the Government's response to the acting chairperson of the budget watchdog? Is this an attempt by Fianna Fáil to undermine the position of a body that was established as a consequence of the party's disastrous economic policy on the previous occasion it served in government?

That is an outrageous assertion. We established the council back then. I believe passionately in the idea of an independent fiscal advisory council. I respect the outcomes of the council's deliberations. That is democracy. Any suggestion that there is an attempt to undermine the council is outrageous, ill-founded and wrong.

I looked at Sinn Féin's budget proposals. I recall that its response to the energy crisis last year was the Liz Truss response. We saw what that did to the British economy.

It was not.

It was a case of spend, spend, spend.

Sinn Féin wanted to bankroll the oil companies-----

Will the Tánaiste explain why the Government is cutting the pay of the acting chairperson?

-----and the gas companies, which would have had very difficult consequences for the Irish economy.

With respect, this is an independent council. Why is the pay being cut?

The Minister for Finance will revert to the Deputy. Deputy Doherty is party's spokesperson on finance and can engage with the Minister.

The Tánaiste does not know. Why is the pay being cut?

I have no doubt there will be a very prosaic explanation for what is going on.

The fiscal council says that the Government is diminishing its role and threatening the fiscal credibility of the State, not me.

Please. Time is up. I ask Deputy Doherty to stop interrupting the proceedings. I call Deputy Bacik.