Virtual meeting on IFIs’ responses to the COVID-19 crisis

1. The Irish PBO’s response to the Covid-19
Crisis – Keeping Members Informed
25th May 2020
Annette Connolly,
Director - Parliamentary Budget Office
House of the Oireachtas Service.

2. • Political context
• Parliamentary Oversight
• PBO Focus – Keeping Members Informed
• Issues with keeping Members informed
2
Overview

3. General Election 8 February 2020
 No new Government formed. 100+ days and counting
 Caretaker Government (previous government remains in
place)
 No political group won an overall majority so a coalition is
needed- talks ongoing
 Consequences:
 Few sittings (only 14 Dáil sitting days in 2020 so far)
 New Covid-19 Committee set up (in the past few weeks)
but no other oversight Committees
 Weak political mandate for major policy developments
 Some Constitutional issues (discussed below)
3
Political context

4. Constitutional and legal issues hamper oversight
 Seanad (upper House) cannot meet until 11 appointments by
Taoiseach (prime minister) who was elected by new Dáil – i.e.
caretaker Taoiseach cannot make these appointments.
 No new legislation can be passed until a Taoiseach is officially
chosen by the new Dáil and appoints new Senators.
 Dáil and Seanad must physically meet under Constitution – no
video conferences or virtual meetings. This means that they
will have to move to another venue to ensure physical
distancing (i.e. 2 metres) if all Members are to be together.
Only 28 People including Members & Parliamentary staff
allowed in current Chamber for debates.
 The Dáil only is needed to pass emergency expenditure
measures (needed before end-May- Some next week)
 Committees must meet in building – no virtual meetings.
4
Political context (continued)

5. 14 Dáil sittings days (most on Covid-19 related issues), 2 Seanad sitting
days in 2020.
Emergency legislation
 Two separate pieces of emergency legislation passed covering some of the
measures listed above. General consensus from all parties on measures.
However:
 Short debates (over 1 day in each chamber) (19/20 and 26/27 March)
 Few votes, few changes to legislation
 Parties agreed to limit number of Members in chamber
Other sessions
 Other Dáil sessions held to date on various aspects of the Pandemic Crisis
and the Government’s response to it.
 Individual topics for statements and questions include: health, social welfare,
education, Government finances, economy, childcare, transport, business
supports, culture and heritage, agriculture (meat processing plants), justice,
housing, tourism.
 Some non-Covid business – Brexit, European Council statements
5
Parliamentary oversight

6.  All PBO staff remote working and continuing to produce papers and
notes for Members.
 The PBO’s focus has been to keep Member’s informed about fiscal
developments - with a special emphasis on Covid-19 related issues.
 24 separate publications since mid-March:
 Continue to publish monthly updates on tax and expenditure
trends, commentary on major fiscal publications.
 Introduced a Covid specific series, 10 notes or papers focused on:
 Emergency legislation and cost of measures introduced.
 Social welfare developments and fiscal implications.
 Specific Covid related topics (Sectors impacted, Irish medical
product trade, Coronabonds, ESM developments, childcare).
 Short, informative.
 Published work that was in-hand pre-Covid – focus on spending
to increase (new) Members’ knowledge of Estimates process but
also on Government debt, site-value tax and Rainy day fund. 6
PBO Focus – Keeping Members Informed

7.  Preparing papers on impact of Covid-19 on:
 Business Supports
 Off balance sheet issues i.e. commercial State owned
entities and State contingent liabilities
 Covid-19 Committee recently set-up. We will provide
specialist support –alonside the Library & Research Service -
where it fits with our remit. Currently considering their list of
topics and how we can support.
 All publications continue to be available on our website
7
Future publications and work

8.  Not ideal situation – various issues have made operating difficult
including:
 70+ new members who have not had full on-site inductions
 Hundreds of new Members’ staff not properly inducted – hired just before
or after ‘work from home’ order.
 Members and their staff not set up for home working, unfamiliar with
Oireachtas systems and processes, do not have proper equipment to
connect to the network.
 New software being rolled out e.g. Microsoft Teams (had planned to roll
out in 2020 taking 6 to 8 months – rolled out for Members and Staff over a
month each).
 Issues with technology, connections, maintaining communications within
the PBO and with Members.
 All online – no print materials – relying on email, website, etc.
 Have run 3 online induction sessions for new Members and their staff on
“How the PBO can support you in your parliamentary work”.
8
Issues with keeping Members Informed
•Files
•Whiteboard
•Chat
•Files
•Whiteboard

9.  Government just published the Stability Programme update for 2020
based on a one quarter of severe restrictions.
 Revenue: – 18% or - €16 billion and Expenditure + 5.5% or ~ €5
billion compared to what was expected when Budget set in October
 Deficit €23 billion + (recovery plan stimulus not included) – could
be up to €30 billion.
9
Overall Fiscal effect
Indicator Previous 2020
forecast (Jan)
New 2020
forecast
GDP 3.9% -10.5%
Unemployment 4.7% 13.9%
GGB +0.7% -7.4%
Debt to GDP ~54% 69%

10. 10
Questions and Answers