This page contains a list of all available document downloads listed under each theme.
Fiscal Policy
12th IMF Review December 2013 
(December 19, 2013)
TWELFTH REVIEW UNDER THE EXTENDED ARRANGEMENT
AND PROPOSAL FOR POST-PROGRAM MONITORING
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
2012 Article IV Consultation With Ireland--Concluding Statement Of The IMF Mission July 18, 2012 
(July 23, 2012)
This document describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the conclusion of their mission to Ireland under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
2012 Exchequer Tax Revenue & Debt Service Expenditure; Monthly Profiles
(February 1, 2012)
Details of expected tax revenue profile consistent with Budget 2012 forecast of €35,825 million. The Budget 2012 forecast for Exchequer debt servicing in 2012 is €7,407 million. Created by Department of Finance, February, 2012.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Taxation
2013 Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure (Pre-Budget)
(December 3, 2012)
2013 Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure (Pre-Budget). Department of Finance.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Public Expenditure,Taxation
6th IMF Review
(June 18, 2012)
The 6th IMF staff report of the Irish bailout.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Policy Briefs
8th IMF Review
(December 20, 2012)
Ireland: Eighth Review Under the Extended Arrangement; Staff Report; Staff Supplements; and Press Release on the Executive Board discussion
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
A Strategy for Growth: Medium-Term Economic Strategy 2014-2020
(December 17, 2013)
Government of Ireland, December 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Action Plan on Base Erosion and Profit Sharing
(July 25, 2013)
.Action Plan on Base Erosion and Profit Sharing
Categories : Budget and Troika
Analysis of High Income Individuals' Restriction 2013
(June 18, 2015)
The 2006 and 2007 Finance Acts introduced, with effect from 1 January 2007, measures to limit the use of certain tax reliefs and exemptions (known as ‘specified reliefs’) by high income individuals. Such individuals, by means of the cumulative use of various tax incentive reliefs, had in previous years the
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Policy Briefs,Taxation
Analysis of the Impact VAT Reduction on Irish Tourism & Employment
(October 21, 2013)
Report carried out by Deloitte on behalf of Fáilte Ireland, examining the impact of the VAT reduction from 13.5%to 9% on tourism-related goods and services
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Appropriation Accounts 2012
(October 26, 2013)
Index to the Appropriation Accounts 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Austerity - Measuring The Pain
(October 31, 2012)
A review of recent work on measuring the impact of austerity from the ESRI, with implications for how we view the pain it imposes.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Our Analysis
Brexit: Ireland And The UK In Numbers.
(December 20, 2016)
Brexit: Ireland and the UK in Numbers. CSO
Categories : Budget and Troika,Critical Analysis,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Budget & Economic Statistics 2013
(January 1, 2014)
Department of Finance Budget & Economic Statistics 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Budget 2012
(February 28, 2012)
Presentation to the IPA by Mr Derek Moran, Assistant Secretary, Tax Policy Unit, Department of Finance.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Presentations/Conference,Public Expenditure,Taxation
Budget 2013 - How Should We Deal with the Deficit in the Social Insurance Fund?
(November 1, 2012)
Commentary on the Deficit in the Social Insurance Fund.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure,Taxation
Budget 2013 - Insights From Daniel Kahneman
(September 3, 2012)
We weigh losses far more heavily than equivalent gains, and we infer the general from the particular, rather than induce the particular from the general. These and many other features of our behaviour are elegantly documented in Thinking, Fast and Slow, authored by Nobel Prize winning Daniel Kahneman. In addition to loss aversion, he identifies the halo effect, anchoring, luck, the planning fallacy, optimism bias, the endowment effect and many other features characterising how we behave. They have considerable value as explanations as to how we got into such economic disarray, and provide some pointers as to how to frame the process of making progress. In this commentary, I summarise a few of the key insights, and their relevance to our situation in Ireland.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis
Budget 2013 - Progressivity of Irish Income Tax System
(September 14, 2012)
Key Point
Based on the standard OECD measure Ireland has the most progressive income tax system (including social insurance contributions) in the EU.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Taxation
Budget 2013 - Three Cheers For The Carbon Tax
(September 22, 2012)
Ireland is a pioneer in the implementation of a carbon tax. This has allowed us to avoid (more) increases in income tax which would have further reduced disposable income, increased labour costs and destroyed jobs. It is also facilitating us in meeting our very demanding legally binding obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provides support for the creation of new jobs
in improving energy efficiency and growing the low carbon economy. We will continue to benefit economically and environmentally if we keep it in place, and increase the rate per tonne of CO2 from
€20 to €25, as envisaged in the programme for government.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Chairmans Blog,Environment & Sustainability,Our Analysis
Budget 2013 – Saorview Switchover a Windfall for Government
(October 23, 2012)
By now most people will have heard about the switch to Saorview, whereby the analogue signal currently used to broadcast TV will be switched off at 10am on October 24th and replaced with a digital signal. What is less well known are the potential revenue benefits the switchover could have for the government. By freeing up scarce spectrum resources, the switch to Saorview paves the way for an auction of new mobile network licences that could raise €205 million immediately, and double that over the next fifteen years. Read this note to find out more.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis
Budget 2013 Economic and Fiscal Outlook
(December 5, 2012)
Recent developments, economic forecasts, and their impact on the Irish fiscal position
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Budget 2013 Expenditure Statement
(December 6, 2012)
Speech by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Public Expenditure
Budget 2013 Financial Statement
(December 5, 2012)
Budget Day speech by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Budget 2014 – Changes to the Standard Fund Threshold Regime
(October 17, 2013)
Presentation on changes made to the Standard Fund Threshold in Budget 2014, including its reduction to €2m from €2.3m
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Budget 2014: The 9% Rate of VAT
(November 11, 2013)
This report analyses the impact of the 9% rate of VAT on tourism and employment. It is argued that directly reducing the taxation of employment would be more effective and less distortionary than the indirect method of lowering taxes on the consumption of goods and services that are labour-intensive
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis
Budget 2015
(October 16, 2014)
Proposed revenues and expenditures for the year 2015, presented to the Dáil on 14 October 2014 by the Minister for Finance.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Policy Briefs
Budgetary & Economic Statistics October 2012
(October 11, 2012)
Part 1 contains budgetary statistics. The 2011 and 2012 voted expenditure figures are taken
from the 2012 Estimates for Public Services, published in February 2012.
Part 2 contains economic statistics mainly on the Irish economy with some comparisons
with other international economies.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Compare Your Country - OECD Economic Outlook
(March 2, 2014)
This is a link to the OECD website which allows comparison with other OECD countries on a range of economic and social indicators.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015-2017
(October 16, 2014)
This document is the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015 – 2017, as presented to Dáil Éireann on 14 October 2014 by the Minster for Public Expenditure & Reform. It sets out the Government’s expenditure allocations and measures for 2015, and the expenditure ceilings for 2016 and 2017.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Policy Briefs,Public Expenditure
Country Report Ireland 2015 : EU Commission
(March 4, 2015)
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
Country Report Ireland 2015 Including an In-Depth Review on the prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Policy Briefs
Cumulative Profiles of Expected Exchequer Expenditure and Revenue 2013
(March 5, 2013)
Cumulative Profiles of Expected Exchequer Expenditure and Revenue 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Public Expenditure,Taxation
Debt And Growth: Is There A Magic Threshold
(February 17, 2014)
IMF researchers Andrea Pescatori, Damiano Sandri, and John Simon find no evidence of any particular debt threshold above which medium-term growth prospects are dramatically compromised.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Draft Memorandum of Understanding March 2013
(March 28, 2013)
This is the review of the Troika Programme published 28 March, 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Early Childhood Education
(July 19, 2013)
This report compares the provision of early childhood education in Ireland to what is observed elsewhere, and finds that Ireland spends significantly less than other developed countries.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis
Economic Adjustment Programme for Ireland Autumn 2012 Review
(January 29, 2013)
Economic Adjustment Programme for Ireland Autumn 2012 Review
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Economic Adjustment Programme for Ireland Spring 2012 Review
(June 26, 2012)
The European Commission comment on the Irish bailout
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Economic Adjustment Programme for Ireland: Summer 2013 Review
(November 1, 2013)
A joint EC/IMF/ECB mission visited Dublin during 9-18 July 2013 to conduct the eleventh review mission under the Economic Adjustment Programme. The mission found that programme implementation remains robust overall, even though domestic vulnerabilities and external risks remain important and will require on-going commitment from the authorities to reforms under the programme and beyond.
This report by European Commission services provides a summary of the main findings of the mission, including an assessment of compliance with the programme conditionality, and an overview of challenges faced by Ireland ahead.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Economic Forecast for Ireland Spring 2013
(May 6, 2013)
Economic Forecast for Ireland Spring 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Economic Forecasts for Ireland Autumn 2014
(November 5, 2014)
Economic Forecasts for Ireland Autumn 2014
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Effective Rates Of Corporation Tax In Ireland.
(April 7, 2014)
This Technical Paper considers calculations for an effective tax rate on corporate profits in
Ireland. This is done under three broad headings: using model companies; using official
national statistics; and using company financial reports. Between these, eight approaches
for calculating the effective tax rate on company profits are identified.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Critical Analysis,External Analysis
Energy Taxes
(July 15, 2015)
Ireland’s energy taxes are relatively high and above the OECD average. This note looks at our tax burden on energy use and CO2 emissions.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Critical Analysis,Our Analysis,Taxation
Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure 2015 (Pre-Budget).
(October 14, 2014)
Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure 2015 (Pre-Budget). Department of Finance
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure for 2014
(October 12, 2013)
Estimates of Receipts and Expenditure for 2014
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
EU Autumn 2013 Fiscal Surveillance Package
(November 18, 2013)
The EU Commission has issued its first ever opinions on each of the 13 Draft Budgetary Plans submitted by euro area Member States by 15 October, 2013. Four Member States (Cyprus, Greece, Ireland and Portugal) were exempted from this exercise as they are subject to a macroeconomic adjustment programme, which already provides this budgetary information. The euro area fiscal surveillance is rooted in the 'Two-Pack' legislation, which entered into force on 30 May 2013
Ireland will be subject to this exercise in Autumn 2014 and the attached document sets out further information on the process
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
EU Commission 9th review of Irish Programme April 2013
(April 24, 2013)
EU Commission 9th review of Irish Programme April 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
EU Commission Opinion on Budget 2016
(November 18, 2015)
EU Commission Opinion on Budget 2016
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Fiscal Fact Sheets
EU Fiscal Governance: Issues for Ireland
(January 29, 2014)
EU Fiscal Governance: Issues for Ireland. IIEA 28 January 2014
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Presentations/Conference
EU Fiscal Governance: The New Rules
(January 29, 2014)
EU Fiscal Governance: The New Rules.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Presentations/Conference
EU IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland November 2012
(December 12, 2012)
EU IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland November 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
EU Opinion on Ireland's Stability Programme 2014
(June 11, 2014)
EU Opinion on Ireland's Stability Programme 2014
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Financial Crisis
EU/IMF Memorandum of Understanding February, 2012
(February 10, 2012)
This is the Fourth Quarterly Review of the Memorandum of Understanding covering the period to December 2011) Created by Department of Finance. (10 February 2012)
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
EU/IMF Memorandum of Understanding June 2013
(June 17, 2013)
Quarterly review of the Troika programme, published on June 13th, 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Euro Area Economic Situation & The Foundations For Growth (slides from the presentation)
(March 21, 2013)
Presentation by Mario Draghi, President of the ECB,
at the Euro Summit, Brussels,14 March 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Other Documents
EUROPEAN ECONOMY Occasional Papers 167 | December 2013
(December 13, 2013)
Economic Adjustment Programme for Ireland Autumn 2013 Review
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Evaluation of EU VAT System
(April 20, 2012)
A retrospective evaluation of elements of the EU VAT System.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Research Reports,Taxation
Exchequer Position For The First Half of 2012
(July 5, 2012)
Department of Finance presentation of the Exchequer Position for the first half of 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Public Expenditure,Taxation
Exchequer Returns February 2014 
(April 25, 2014)
Monthly exchequer returns in Excel format. Returns are broken down in to their separate tax headings
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Finance Accounts 2012
(September 30, 2013)
Audited Financial Statements of the Exchequer
For the Financial Year 1st January 2012 to 31st December 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Finance at Centre Stage: Some Lessons of the Euro Crisis
(April 3, 2013)
The author describes how EMU design failures contributed to the European financial crisis, and proposes a redesign of the EMU that includes fiscal and banking unions.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Financial Crisis
Fiscal Adjustment - Too Much of a Good Thing?
(February 8, 2012)
Almost everyone agrees that the fiscal accounts of several advanced economies are in a pretty bad shape and need to be strengthened. But how rapid should the adjustment be? At times over the last couple of years, the IMF called on countries to step up the pace of adjustment when we thought they were moving too slowly. This column says that in the current environment, some might be going too fast.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Critical Analysis,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Fiscal Assessment Report (Apr 2012)
(September 11, 2012)
This Fiscal Assessment Report assesses the macroeconomic and budgetary projections set out by Government in Budget 2012, including the appropriateness of the overall fiscal stance over the period to 2015.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Research Reports
Fiscal Assessment Report (September 2012)
(September 13, 2012)
This Report assesses the macroeconomic and budgetary projections set out by the Government in the Stability Programme Update 2012, and in advance of Budget 2013 and the appropriateness of the fiscal stance over the period to 2015. The report also considers the longer-term implications of compliance with the fiscal rules in the Fiscal Responsibility Bill.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Fiscal Assessment Report June 2016
(June 8, 2016)
Irish Fiscal Advisory Council Report
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Fiscal Assessment Report November 2014
(November 25, 2014)
Fiscal Assessment Report
November 2014
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Fiscal Assessment Report, April 2013
(April 10, 2013)
The report assesses the Department of Finance's official macroeconomic and budgetary projections in the context of Budget 2013 and the forthcoming Stability Programme Update. The report also considers the appropriateness of the fiscal stance over the period to 2015, and looks at Ireland's compliance with the fiscal rules legislated for under the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Fiscal Assessment Report; November, 2013
(November 23, 2013)
Fiscal Assessment Report; November, 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Fiscal Council Pre-Budget 2018 Statement
(September 5, 2017)
Pre-Budget 2018 Statement
Categories : Budget and Troika,Public Expenditure
Fiscal Devaluation
(April 19, 2012)
During the boom years, the competitiveness of the Irish economy deteriorated. Recovery depends on the restoration of our competitive position.
When an economy becomes uncompetitive, a standard way of addressing the problem is to devalue the currency. Ireland did this in 1986 and 1993. But as members of a currency union this option is no longer available.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Critical Analysis,Debt & Deficits,Our Analysis
Fiscal Monitor - April 2015
(April 16, 2015)
Fiscal Policies for Sustainable Growth. IMF. April 2015.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Fiscal Monitor - August 2017
(September 5, 2017)
Fiscal Monitor - August 2017
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Public Expenditure,Taxation
Fiscal Monitor February, 2017
(March 7, 2017)
Department of Finance, Fiscal Monitor February, 2017
Categories : Budget and Troika,Critical Analysis,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution
Fiscal Update - Q1 2014
(April 20, 2014)
An analysis of exchequer returns for the first quarter of 2014
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Going For Growth 2015: Ireland Country Notes
(February 10, 2015)
OECD Going For Growth 2015: Ireland Country Notes
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Government Finance Statistics
(October 14, 2013)
Annual statistics relating to government finances and net worth, 2009 -2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Government Finance Statistics 2013
(April 14, 2014)
Central Statistics Office 2009 - 2013 (April 2014 Results)
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Government Finance Statistics 2014 Quarter 1
(July 30, 2014)
CSO - Government Finance Statistics 2014 Q1
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Government Finance Statistics April 2015
(April 20, 2015)
Government Finance Statistics April 2015 CSO
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Policy Briefs
Government Finance Statistics October 2013
(October 21, 2013)
Government Finance Statistics October 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Government: How Ireland Compares with OECD Countries 2013
(November 22, 2013)
Government at a glance 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Holders Of Irish Government Bonds
(April 14, 2014)
The Central Bank of Ireland is today (11 April 2014) introducing an enhanced dataset on the holders of Irish government bonds.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets
IMF 'Taxing Times' Fiscal Monitor Report October, 2013
(October 14, 2013)
IMF 'Taxing Times' Fiscal Monitor Report October, 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
IMF 9th Review of Ireland’s Programme March 2013
(April 4, 2013)
IMF 9th Review of Ireland’s Programme March 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
IMF Completes Ninth Review Under the Extended Fund Facility with Ireland
(March 23, 2013)
IMF Completes Ninth Review Under the Extended Fund Facility with Ireland and Approves €0.97 Billion Disbursement.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
IMF Completes Tenth Review of Ireland's Programme
(June 18, 2013)
IMF Completes Tenth Review of Ireland's Programme
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Research Reports
IMF Fiscal Monitor & Database April, 2013
(April 19, 2013)
IMF Fiscal Monitor & Database April, 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
IMF Fiscal Monitor April 2014
(April 11, 2014)
The Fiscal Monitor surveys and analyses the latest public finance developments, updates fiscal implications of the crisis and medium-term fiscal projections, and assesses policies to put public finances on a sustainable footing. It is prepared twice a year by the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
IMF Fiscal Monitor Database October 2013
(October 14, 2013)
The Fiscal Monitor surveys and analyses the latest public finance developments, updates fiscal implications of the crisis and medium-term fiscal projections, and assesses policies to put public finances on a sustainable footing. It is prepared twice a year by the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
IMF Staff Report On Ireland
(September 24, 2012)
The IMF Staff report on Ireland - September 10, 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Research Reports
IMF Tenth Review of Troika Programme
(June 20, 2013)
IMF Tenth Review of Troika Programme
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
IMF: Ireland-Concluding Statement Of The First Post-Program Monitoring Discussion May 2014
(May 6, 2014)
IMF: Ireland-Concluding Statement Of The First Post-Program Monitoring Discussion May 2014
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Implementing EU Directives - An Opportunity to Lead.
(February 18, 2013)
There are many areas where the performance of the EU can be improved. Improving the governance of banks and addressing public debt have dominated recent efforts in Ireland and across the Union. Now that the promissory note aspect of our banking crisis has been addressed, there is an opportunity to focus on another area where the performance of the EU and Ireland is inadequate.
There has been significant policy failure in the implementation of EU directives in Ireland and other Member States. The European Affairs Committee of the Oireachtas (Parliament) should be given an explicit mandate to monitor and report on our performance. Ireland should use its influence in Europe to put this issue on the EU agenda
Categories : Budget and Troika,Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform
Institutional Sector Accounts 2011
(November 9, 2012)
This release contains important data on savings and household deb.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
International Comparisons of Taxation and Public Spending and GNP/GDP
(May 31, 2012)
This note explains why it is appropriate in comparing levels of public expenditure in Ireland with other countries to use the proportion of GNP in Ireland’s case.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure,Taxation,Working Papers
Ireland : Eleventh Review Under the Extended Arrangement
(October 8, 2013)
Ireland : Eleventh Review Under the Extended Arrangement
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Ireland : Fiscal Transparency Assessment July 2013
(July 17, 2013)
This pilot Fiscal Transparency Assessment for Ireland was prepared by a staff team of the International Monetary Fund as background documentation for the periodic consultation with the member country.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Ireland : IMF Annual Review 2015 Statement
(January 29, 2015)
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visited Dublin during January 20–27 for the 2015 Article IV consultation discussions, part of the IMF’s regular surveillance of all member countries. This document outlines its finding.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Ireland : Report Card November 2013
(November 15, 2013)
Ireland : Report Card November 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Ireland and Greece: A Tale of Two Fiscal Adjustments
(March 20, 2013)
This short note from the Institute of International Finance compares and contrasts the recent economic fortunes of Ireland and Greece. Ireland’s relative success comes not just from its larger export sector and improved competitiveness, but also a gentler pace of fiscal consolidation and lower multiplier.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Ireland Country Report 2016
(March 1, 2016)
Ireland Country Report 2016. EU Commission
Categories : Budget and Troika,Critical Analysis,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Policy Briefs
Ireland Report Card December 2013
(December 13, 2013)
Ireland Report Card December 2013 from the Department of Finance.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Ireland's Current Fiscal Profile
(May 9, 2013)
This note sets out the key facts in relation to the current Irish fiscal position as at May 2013.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure,Taxation
Ireland's Public Debt Burden
(June 11, 2015)
This note (updated) examines Ireland’s debt burden and also includes comparisons with other EU countries.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Income Distribution,Public Expenditure,Taxation
Ireland's Report Card March 2014
(March 13, 2014)
Ireland's Report Card March 2014
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Ireland's Report Card March, 2013
(March 7, 2013)
Ireland's Report Card March, 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Ireland's Report Card May 2014
(May 9, 2014)
Ireland's Continuing Progress May 2014 - Department of Finance
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Ireland's Return To The Bond Markets
(July 29, 2012)
Ireland returned to the bond markets after an absence of two years. Here, we analyse the results.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Our Analysis
Ireland's Stability Programme Update
(April 27, 2012)
This is Ireland's Stability Programme Update (SPU) which has been submitted to the EU Commission and which incorporates the Department of Finance spring forecasts for 2012.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Policy Briefs
Ireland's Tax Expenditure System: International Comparisons & A Reform Agenda
(January 16, 2010)
Tax expenditures, also known as tax incentives or tax breaks, represent an infrequently explored and little understood area of Irish public policy. Despite this, they account for more than billion per annum in exchequer revenue forgone (2006 figures).
This paper examines the tax expenditure regime in Ireland and highlights the role that tax expenditures should play in the budgetary adjustment planned for late 2010 and in other years. It looks at the nature and scale of Ireland’s tax expenditure system in national and international contexts and considers their impact, advantages, limitations and consequences. Concludes with suggested reforms.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Taxation,Working Papers
Ireland: Ex Post Evaluation Of Exceptional Access Under The 2010 Extended Arrangement- January 2015
(January 30, 2015)
IRELAND: EX POST EVALUATION OF EXCEPTIONAL ACCESS UNDER THE 2010 EXTENDED ARRANGEMENT - January 2015
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Public Sector Reform
Ireland: Regaining Creditworthiness
(June 26, 2012)
Investor Presentation from the NTMA
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Ireland: Report Card February 2014
(February 5, 2014)
Ireland's Continuing Progress February 2014 - Department of Finance
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Ireland: Second Post-program Monitoring Discussions; Staff Report; January 2015
(January 30, 2015)
Ireland SECOND POST-PROGRAM MONITORING DISCUSSIONS; STAFF
REPORT; January, 2015 IMF
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution
Ireland’s Digital Dividend: How Much is it Worth?
(July 23, 2012)
The 2012 mobile licence auction will yield revenue for the state. This note explains what is happening and attempts to ascertain how much it is worth.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Working Papers
Ireland’s Public Debt Burden
(June 11, 2014)
This note examines Ireland’s debt burden and also includes comparisons with other EU countries.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis
Ireland’s Spring Economic Forecast 2016 (European Commission)
(May 4, 2016)
Ireland’s Spring Economic Forecast 2016 (European Commission)
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Ireland’s Stability Programme April 2015 Update
(April 29, 2015)
Ireland’s Stability Programme April 2015 Update incorporating the Department of Finance's Spring Economic Statment.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis
Irish Economy : EU Commission Forecast February 2015
(February 6, 2015)
Ireland's economy is expected to remain resilient and to keep growing faster than the EU average. Thanks to buoyant tax revenues, the deficit remains on a downward path despite considerable overspending
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Low Income Self-Employed Are Unfairly Treated by the Tax System
(July 25, 2013)
Self-employed people face a higher rate of tax than employees. The inequity is particularly acute at low levels of income.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis
Maastricht Returns
(April 22, 2013)
Eurostat publishes Maastricht returns which show that Ireland's General Government Deficit in 20012 was 7.6 % of GDP. The forecast for 2013 is 7.4 % of GDP.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Maastricht Returns Information Note
(April 25, 2012)
This note by the Department of Finance explains the out turn of 2011 general Government deficit and debt and gives forecasts for 2012.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Macro-Financial Review November 2012
(November 28, 2012)
Macro-Financial Review November 2012. Central Bank of Ireland
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Macroeconomic Imbalances Ireland 2014
(March 7, 2014)
European Economy - Macroeconomic Imbalances Ireland 2014
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Macroeconomic Scoreboard 2014
(November 27, 2015)
Macroeconomic Scoreboard 2014 CSO
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Policy Briefs
Making Sure Economists Do More Good Than Harm.
(April 30, 2012)
Economics is the science of choice. The job of economists is to take away the punch bowl just when the party gets going. It's perhaps the only field where, the more they get it wrong, the more their services are in demand – perverse incentives on a grand scale.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis
Medium Term Budgetary Framework December 2013
(January 23, 2014)
Department of Finance
Medium Term Budgetary Framework
Published December 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Medium Term Fiscal Statement November 2012
(November 14, 2012)
Department of Finance - Medium Term Fiscal Statement November 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Monthly Economic Bulletin April 2014
(April 8, 2014)
Department of Finance's Monthly Economic Bulletin
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Monthly Economic Bulletin April 2015
(April 13, 2015)
Department of Finance.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Monthly Economic Bulletin December 2013
(December 9, 2013)
December 2013 Monthly Economic Bulletin
Department of Finance
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Monthly Economic Bulletin October 2013
(October 6, 2013)
Department of Finance's Monthly Economic Bulletin October 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
Mortgage Arrears
(February 28, 2013)
This note contains the latest statistics on mortgage arrears and mortgage restructuring, as well as a brief description of the new bankruptcy regime.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Financial Crisis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
New EU Surveillance Process Report
(February 1, 2012)
This report (Feb12) marks the first step in implementing the new surveillance procedure for the prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances in the EU. Countries that are already under increased economic surveillance (Greece, Ireland, Portugal & Romania) are not examined.
Further in-depth analysis is recommended for Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Hungary, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden and the UK.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Research Reports
New Government Finance Statistics issued by CSO
(April 22, 2013)
Government Finance Statistics Annual Results 2009-2012 (April 2013) (PDF 141KB)
Government Finance Statistics Quarterly Results 2009-2012 (April 2013) (PDF 104KB)
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
OECD Economic Forecast for Ireland (Summary) November 2012
(November 28, 2012)
OECD Economic Forecast for Ireland (Summary) November 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
OECD on Ireland (2011)
(January 1, 2011)
Economic survey on Ireland by the OECD.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Research Reports
OECD Taxing Wages 2011
(April 27, 2012)
This report finds that Ireland is among the OECD countries that levy a relatively low tax burden on labour income, particularly for single parents with low earnings. In 2000, the average tax wedge (income taxes plus employee and employer social security contributions minus cash transfers as a percentage of total labour costs) was below the OECD average for all family types in the Taxing Wages Report.
Between 2000 and 2011, the difference compared with the OECD average widened as Ireland reduced the tax wedge considerably except for the single taxpayers with low and high earnings. Over this period, the tax wedge declined by more than 23 percentage points for single parents with low earnings; they received more in government transfers than the taxes they paid. Their tax wedge was the lowest among the OECD countries in 2011.
Note: the Tax Wedge is the sum of personal income tax and employee plus employer social security contributions together with any payroll tax less cash transfers, expressed as a percentage of labour costs
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Income Distribution,Research Reports,Taxation
Perspectives on Fiscal Challenges Facing Ireland November 2013
(November 25, 2013)
Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Robert Watt, address at the Social Justice Ireland’s annual Social Policy Conference, in Croke Park, on Tuesday 19 November 2013.
Categories : Budget and Troika
Pre-Budget 2015 Statement
(September 22, 2014)
September 2014
Irish Fiscal Advisory Council
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Presentation: Hidden Behind The Unemployment Rate
(May 9, 2013)
A short presentation on migration, employment and labour market participation delivered by Cormac O’Sullivan at the first annual NERI Labour Market Conference on May 1st 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Supply-Side Reform
Press Release: 8th IMF Review
(December 18, 2012)
IMF Completes Eighth Review Under the Extended Fund Facility with Ireland and Approves €0.89 billion Disbursement.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Public Investment Management Assessment (IMF, 2017)
(November 13, 2017)
Public Investment Management Assessment (IMF, 2017)
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis
Quantification of the Economic Impacts of Selected Structural Reforms in Ireland
(July 9, 2014)
Quantification of the Economic Impacts of Selected Structural Reforms in Ireland
Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service
Working Paper July 2014
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Quarterly Financial Accounts For Ireland: Q2 2012
(November 14, 2012)
Quarterly Financial Accounts for Ireland Quarter 2 2012. Central Bank of Ireland.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Financial Crisis
Refinancing The Irish Bailout - The Options Post The June 2012 Summit
(September 5, 2012)
This paper consider Ireland's budgetary situation arising out of the banking crisis and the possible means of reducing Ireland's debt burden. Issues dealt with include the composition of Ireland's bank debt, the significance of the June 2012 Euro Area Summit statement for Ireland and the possibility of a deal on the promissory notes
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Reflections On 6 Years Of Public Policy
(March 26, 2018)
The time has come for us to close our doors as our funding from Atlantic Philanthropies has been exhausted.
We end with some final thoughts.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Policy Briefs,Property Tax,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Taxation,Water Policy
Reflections On 6 Years Of Public Policy
(March 26, 2018)
The time has come for us to close our doors as our funding from Atlantic Philanthropies has been exhausted.
We end with some final thoughts.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Policy Briefs,Property Tax,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Taxation,Water Policy
Remaining Structural Reforms Under the EU/IMF Programme
(September 18, 2013)
This note looks at the structural reforms required by the Troika as the current EU/IMF Programme draws to a close. Key reforms in health, state assets, the labour market and water services are discussed.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis
Report of the Expert Group on Repossessions
(January 15, 2014)
Recommendations from a civil service expert group on improving Ireland’s repossession framework
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Financial Crisis
Report On Tax Expenditures
(November 12, 2014)
The Commission on Taxation recommended a systematic approach to the evaluation of tax expenditures (Recommendation 8.5 P 230). This report by the Department of Finance sets out an excellent process to achieve this. When implemented it should ensure that the proliferation of tax expenditures which made a significant contribution to the economic crisis should be avoided in the future.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Revenue Statistics Ireland 2014
(December 12, 2014)
The tax GNP ratio in Ireland in 2012 was 33.4% (OECd avg 33.7% of GDP)
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Income Distribution,Public Expenditure
Review Of Budget Oversight By Parliment:Ireland, OECD , Autumn, 2015
(November 18, 2015)
Review Of Budget Oversight By Parliment:Ireland, OECD , Autumn, 2015
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Financial Crisis
Review of the Troika Programme (30 May 2012)
(June 14, 2012)
This is the review of the Troika Programme dated 30 May 2012.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Policy Briefs
Review of the Troika Programme of 20 August 2012
(August 27, 2012)
This is a review of the Troika Programme of the 20 August 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Revised Estimates for Public Services 2013
(April 18, 2013)
Revised Estimates for Public Services 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Public Expenditure
Self-Defeating Austerity?
(November 1, 2012)
1 November 2012
In this paper Holland and Portes present the results of their macro-econometric model of the EU. Specifically they argue that because of the times we live in, large scale and largely uncoordinated fiscal consolidations across the EU will lead to a collective fall in GDP and an increase in debt to GDP ratios. The increase in debt is obviously the opposite of what was intended.
The main conclusions are:
*While in 'normal times', fiscal consolidation would lead to a fall in debt-to-GDP ratios, in current circumstances fiscal consolidation is indeed likely to be 'self-defeating' for the EU collectively.
*The fiscal consolidation plans currently in train will lead to higher - not lower - debt ratios in 2013 in the EU as a whole.
*This will also be true in almost all individual EU nations.
*Ireland is an exception.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Sixth Quarterly Review Of The Memorandum Of Understanding Covering The Period To December 2011
(September 6, 2012)
This is the Sixth Quarterly Review of the Memorandum of Understanding covering the period to December 2011. Date: 20 August, 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Sixth Troika Review Places More Emphasis On Growth
(June 19, 2012)
The latest Troika review contains proposals for a Growth Fund, but spending it wisely will mean making difficult choices.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Financial Crisis,Our Analysis
Spring Economic Statement April 2015
(April 29, 2015)
Department of Finance Spring Economic Statement April 2015
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Public Expenditure
Stability Programme Update - April 2013
(May 1, 2013)
Stability Programme Update - April 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Stability Programme Update 2014
(April 17, 2014)
The SPU sets out the official macro-economic and fiscal forecasts for Ireland out to 2018.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Statement by EC, ECB and IMF on the Tenth Review Mission to Ireland - May, 2013
(May 13, 2013)
Statement by EC, ECB and IMF on the Tenth Review Mission to Ireland - May, 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Statement By The EC, ECB, & IMF On The Review Mission To Ireland October, 2012
(October 26, 2012)
Statement by the EC, ECB, and IMF on the Review Mission to Ireland October, 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Statement by the EC, ECB, and IMF on the Review Mission to Ireland Feb 2013
(February 8, 2013)
Statement by the EC, ECB, and IMF on the Review Mission to Ireland Feb 2013
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Strengthening Ireland's Fiscal Institutions
(February 1, 2012)
This report assesses elements of the fiscal framework proposed in the Department of Finance’s March 2011 discussion document "Reforming Ireland’s Budgetary Framework" and contains recommendations for the design of a set of fiscal rules and a permanent independent fiscal council.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Research Reports
Summary of 2013 Budget Measures
(December 5, 2012)
Budget 2013 tax changes and their projected impacts
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Taxation
Survey Of Income And Living Conditions 2014
(November 26, 2015)
Survey of Income and Living Conditions 2014 CSO
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Income Distribution,Policy Briefs,Public Expenditure,Research Reports
Survey of Irish Taxation
(April 25, 2012)
An overview of taxation in Ireland.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Taxation
Tax Receipts March 2014
(April 25, 2014)
Monthly tax receipts in Excel format. Tax receipts are broken down in to their separate tax headings.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets
Tax Revenue Profile For 2012
(February 1, 2012)
Details of expected tax revenue profile of individual taxes consistent with Budget 2012 forecast of €35,825 million. Created by Department of Finance, February, 2012.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Taxation
Taxation Trends in the European Union 2013 Edition
(May 2, 2013)
This report contains a detailed statistical and economic analysis of the tax systems of the Member States of the European Union, plus Iceland and Norway.
The report also contains indicators of the average effective tax rate falling on consumption, labour and capital, as well as data on environmental and property taxation and on the top rates for the personal and corporate income tax.
Country chapters give an overview of the tax system in each of the 29 countries covered, the revenue trends and the main recent policy changes. Detailed tables allow comparison between the individual countries and European averages. Data cover the 1995-2011 period and are presented both as a percentage of GDP and as a percentage of total taxation
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Taxation
The EU Expenditure Benchmark: Operational Issues for Ireland in 2016
(April 8, 2015)
Analytical Note No. 7: April 2015
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Income Distribution
The Finances of Local Government in Ireland
(November 27, 2013)
This note sets out the income and expenditure of the local government sector in Ireland.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets
The Government's Balance Sheet after the Crisis: A Comprehensive Perspective
(September 26, 2013)
The Government's Balance Sheet after the Crisis: A Comprehensive Perspective
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
The Irish Economy in Perspective June 2012
(July 5, 2012)
This policy brief, prepared by the Department of Finance, contains information on past and projected future developments in the Irish economy.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Policy Briefs
The Irish Tax System in an International Context
(November 7, 2013)
This paper gives an overview of the evolution of the Irish tax system and the changing composition of tax revenue. It also compares the Irish tax system with EU and OECD standards.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis
The Latest EU Commission Economic Forecast for Ireland
(November 8, 2012)
The latest EU Commission Economic Forecast for Ireland - 7 Nov 2012
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
The Minimum Wage: Too High Or Too Low?
(June 20, 2013)
This note discusses the influence the national minimum wage has on the labour market. Judging by European standards, the minimum wage does not appear to be exceptionally high. However, the evidence suggests it is high enough to ensure most people are incentivised to choose to work at the minimum wage over unemployment.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis
The Reinhart and Rogoff Debate: Implications for Ireland
(April 24, 2013)
How much debt is too much? The answer to such a simple question would obviously be of great use to policy makers who struggle to make decisions under great uncertainty
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis
The Structure of Ireland's Tax System And Options for Growth Enhancing Reform
(June 26, 2013)
Presentation by Brendan O'Connor at the Tax Conference June 2013 hosted by the Department of Finance
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis
The Troika And Financial Assistance In The Euro Area: Successes And Failures
(February 20, 2014)
The Troika and financial assistance in the euro area: successes and failures.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis
Time for Eurozone To Revisit Default Debt Option
(November 14, 2012)
Irish Times article by Ashoka Moody.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis
Time Series of Key Economic Indicators
(April 13, 2012)
Tax ratios as a percentage of GDP.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Taxation
Towards a Genuine Economic and Monetary Union
(April 3, 2013)
A report by the President of the European Council setting out a vision for reform of the EMU.
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Financial Crisis
What Kind of European Banking Union
(April 3, 2013)
The authors discuss the options for a banking union in Europe, highlighting the need for common regulation, a supranational resolution authority, centralised deposit insurance and some form of implicit fiscal backing
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Financial Crisis
What We Don't Know About State Funding
(December 17, 2012)
Eurostat has published figures showing social protection expenditure in 2010 for the EU27 and five other European countries.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure
Work Incentives
(February 4, 2015)
A key aim of public policy is to ensure that work pays while achieving adequate income protection for the unemployed. This is particularly important in the case of young people in order to avoid locking them into long-term unemployment which has very negative economic and social consequences in the longer-term. This note looks at some data on incentives to work.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Chairman’s Blog
Airline Competition In Ireland - Back to Monopoly?
(July 10, 2012)
For any country, easy and efficient access to others is an important contributor to its economy and quality of life. It is particularly so when the country is an island with no land or rail links to major trading partners or potential tourists. In Ireland, this was recognised by earlier governments, who established and supported the establishment of State airline and shipping companies to ensure that such access was available. But these became State protected monopolies, with high costs and at times indifferent services. Some of us recall being frequent users of the Dublin to Brussels service offered by Aer Lingus in the 1970s and 80s, where flight availability was limited, and costs for a restricted economy ticket often fell in the range of €600-800 or even more.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis
Aurora Colorado and The Importance of Social Capital
(July 24, 2012)
Social capital is that set of reflexes we absorb from our culture, religion, families and our ancestors. It shapes how we react to crisis and opportunity
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis
Budget 2013 & 'Future Health'
(November 30, 2012)
Adjusting for our relatively young population, Ireland has the most expensive health system in Europe. The OECD ranks the productivity of the Irish health system 28th out of 28 and estimates that GDP could be increased by 4.8% if a series of reforms were undertaken. So there is compelling case on economic and health effectiveness grounds for addressing reform. The Government’s “Future Health” document is hugely significant in that, if acted upon, it will affect our well- being and economic and social performance like no other initiative. If we get it wrong, it will cause huge damage. If we get it right, it could be transformative in a positive sense.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Health,Health Policy,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure
Budget 2013 - Insights From Daniel Kahneman
(September 3, 2012)
We weigh losses far more heavily than equivalent gains, and we infer the general from the particular, rather than induce the particular from the general. These and many other features of our behaviour are elegantly documented in Thinking, Fast and Slow, authored by Nobel Prize winning Daniel Kahneman. In addition to loss aversion, he identifies the halo effect, anchoring, luck, the planning fallacy, optimism bias, the endowment effect and many other features characterising how we behave. They have considerable value as explanations as to how we got into such economic disarray, and provide some pointers as to how to frame the process of making progress. In this commentary, I summarise a few of the key insights, and their relevance to our situation in Ireland.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis
Budget 2013 - The Case For Periodic Instead of Lump Sum Payments for Damages Arising Out of Alleged Medical Negligence
(August 20, 2012)
Key Point
We should move right away from lump sum to periodic payments in the case of medical negligence cases in Ireland. And this should happen before Budget 2013 is presented to the Oireachtas (Parliament) in December 2012. An excellent report explaining why this should happen, and how it should be done, was presented to the then Minister for Justice almost 2 years ago. Inaction will have many costs, not least that the Minister for Finance will have to find up to about €50 million right away that he (and we) can all ill afford
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Health,Health Policy,Our Analysis
Budget 2013 - Three Cheers For The Carbon Tax
(September 22, 2012)
Ireland is a pioneer in the implementation of a carbon tax. This has allowed us to avoid (more) increases in income tax which would have further reduced disposable income, increased labour costs and destroyed jobs. It is also facilitating us in meeting our very demanding legally binding obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provides support for the creation of new jobs
in improving energy efficiency and growing the low carbon economy. We will continue to benefit economically and environmentally if we keep it in place, and increase the rate per tonne of CO2 from
€20 to €25, as envisaged in the programme for government.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Chairmans Blog,Environment & Sustainability,Our Analysis
Budget 2013 - University Collaboration - A Modest Proposal
(October 10, 2012)
Suggestions to merge Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin (UCD) have been rejected. But they should emulate the US precedent and provide the facility for students, both
undergraduate and graduate, to take courses for credit in each other’s programmes. This should be done across the board, with a minimum of bureaucracy and no fees transfer; the only requirements
would be that students meet the necessary pre-requisites to take the course(s) in question, and that there is classroom or other relevant capacity in the receiving institution. It would help make the
programmes of both universities more internationally competitive, and will encourage specialisation and scale in research; the whole will be more than the sum of the parts. The TCD-UCD Innovation Alliance and a few Higher Education Authority (HEA) bottom-up collaborative initiatives show promise, but to achieve serious economies of scale and scope, access should be universal. What is good enough for Harvard and MIT should be good enough for UCD and TCD.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Chairman's Blogs: April 2012 - September 2013
(September 13, 2013)
Public Policy Commentaries Compilation.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis
Do The Benefits Of The London Olympics Justify The Cost of £9.3 Billion
(August 7, 2012)
The Benefits and Costs of the London Olympics
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure
Dragon O'Sullivan Identifies Ireland's Critical Contraint
(May 25, 2012)
Living is about dealing with constraints – physical, economic, social, emotional, psychological and environmental. And a successful life is about knowing which constraints are critical, which are the ones we can do something about, and acting accordingly.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis,Supply-Side Reform
Fracking and Local Credibility in Ireland
(March 8, 2012)
When elected members of local authorities are faced with the possibility of a transformative development in their areas, they have two choices. They can initiate a process of becoming seriously informed of the technical, economic, social and environmental implications, engage on the basis of such information with key stakeholders and the general public, and then arrive at conclusions as to what the best way forward for their area is or they can grandstand with a rush to judgement.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Environment & Sustainability,Local Government,Our Analysis
Implementing EU Directives - An Opportunity to Lead.
(February 18, 2013)
There are many areas where the performance of the EU can be improved. Improving the governance of banks and addressing public debt have dominated recent efforts in Ireland and across the Union. Now that the promissory note aspect of our banking crisis has been addressed, there is an opportunity to focus on another area where the performance of the EU and Ireland is inadequate.
There has been significant policy failure in the implementation of EU directives in Ireland and other Member States. The European Affairs Committee of the Oireachtas (Parliament) should be given an explicit mandate to monitor and report on our performance. Ireland should use its influence in Europe to put this issue on the EU agenda
Categories : Budget and Troika,Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform
Independence Day – Insights From The US
(July 4, 2013)
A few reflections on American culture to celebrate Independence Day
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis
Making Sure Economists Do More Good Than Harm.
(April 30, 2012)
Economics is the science of choice. The job of economists is to take away the punch bowl just when the party gets going. It's perhaps the only field where, the more they get it wrong, the more their services are in demand – perverse incentives on a grand scale.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis
Organ Donation – The Case For ‘Opt Out’ Rather Than ‘Opt In’.
(July 30, 2013)
When money is short, it is especially important to seek out those opportunities that make us better off, and don’t cost much.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Health,Our Analysis
Property Tax - Why Dubliners Should Pay More.
(January 19, 2013)
Some have complained that the residential property tax that will be applied in Ireland from 2013, which will be based on the market value of the property, will be unfair to Dubliners, because property values are higher there than elsewhere in Ireland. The value of the 298 properties sold in Dundrum, County Dublin are compared with the value of the 25 properties sold in Dundrum, County Tipperary, over the 2010-2012 period, using the Residential Property Price Register (RPPR). The median value (and associated full-year property tax in brackets) for Dundrum, County Tipperary are €100,001-150,000 (€225); the equivalent for Dundrum, County Dublin are €350,001-400,000 (€675); the median property owners in County Dublin will pay €450 more in annual property than their counterparts in County Tipperary. But the former have manifold advantages over the latter, including easy access to tax-payer subsidised infrastructure and services in: transport, culture, sports, education, health; and the widest range of life style possibilities, job options and entrepreneurial potential on the island. These benefits are reflected in property prices and therefore in property taxes; this is fair and appropriate. The timeliness and transparency of the property price evidence available on the RPPR is impressive, as is the quality and clarity of the background information and responses to ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ provided by the Revenue Commissioners. One weakness is that the price is not converted into price per M2. This gap should be corrected as a matter of urgency. The data, combined with the Revenue Commissioners’ ability to nudge us towards compliance with a variety of soft and hard measures, make it likely that most of us will comply.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Local Government,Our Analysis,Property Tax,Taxation
The First Steps in Ireland’s Emerging Climate Strategy Assessed
(March 20, 2013)
The Irish government has published the draft heads of a climate bill. Because we won’t know the essence of what is proposed until we see the national and sectoral roadmaps that will follow, it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions as to the sense and effectiveness of what is proposed.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Environment & Sustainability,Our Analysis
Water for Poor People - The Case for Affordable Water
(June 25, 2012)
Henri Smets sets the international context for water pricing: “In all countries, it is now accepted that water users should pay to a very large extent for the water they use, and the amount of payment be proportionate to water consumption. The Irish model of free water for domestic users was hardly known to the rest of Europe, and did not inspire the policy of any country in Western Europe.”
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Environment & Sustainability,Our Analysis,Water Policy
Income Distribution
A Survey Of The Benefit System In Ireland
(December 19, 2016)
A Survey Of The Benefit System In Ireland
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure
An Analysis of Public and Private Sector Earnings in Ireland 2008-2013
(July 22, 2016)
Written by researchers from the UCC School of Economics and commissioned by Publicpolicy.ie, this report analyses public and private sector earnings in Ireland 2008-13. Data is used only for over 650,000 individuals who were in employment for the full period 2008 to 2013, worked a minimum of 48 weeks a year, and earned at least €10,000 a year.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Analysis of High Income Individuals' Restriction 2011
(October 21, 2013)
Report of the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Can We Measure Who Loses Most From Public Service Spending Cuts?
(June 12, 2014)
The distributional impacts of changes in taxes and cash benefits are relatively well-understood. This paper explores the less understood methods for modelling the impact of changes to spending on ‘in-kind’ benefits – such as health, education or infrastructure – and the issues those methods raise.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Comment on Results of SILC Thematic Report on Elderly
(August 16, 2013)
Young carry the can for elderly in recessionary squeeze. Seniors got more from the boom and have given less back as belts tightened in the bust.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Compare Your Country - Tax Burden On Labour Income
(May 13, 2015)
OECD -Compare Your Country - Tax Burden On Labour Income
Categories : Debt & Deficits,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution,Research Reports,Taxation
Deprivation
(July 8, 2015)
Deprivation levels have increased across all income deciles since the economic crisis in 2008. Deprivation is highest among lone-parents and lowest among those who are retired.
Categories : Debt & Deficits,Income Distribution
Distribution Of Wealth In Ireland
(December 1, 2016)
Almost 60% of wealth in Ireland is owned by those over 55 and the largest components of tangible household wealth are the main residence and farms.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Distributional Effects of Austerity Measures: A Comparison of Six EU Countries
(February 28, 2012)
Study into the effects of increases in personal taxes, cuts in spending and reductions in public sector pay up to mid-2011 in Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal and the UK. Key finding is that the burden of fiscal consolidation is shared differently.
The scale of the adjustment in Ireland is relatively very large - at two and a half times the average adjustment in the other 5 countries and is also relatively progressive.
Categories : Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Income Distribution,Working Papers
Earnings And Labour Cost Data 2011
(November 9, 2012)
Earnings And Labour Cost Data 2011. Central Statistics Office.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Employment Earnings Inequality - Seminar Presentation
(November 19, 2012)
Employment Earnings Inequality in Ireland 2006 -2010. Seminar Presentation
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Employment Earnings Inequality in Ireland 2006-2010
(November 15, 2012)
Report on Earnings Inequality in Ireland 2006 - 2010
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Eurostat: Ireland Spent 29.6 % of GDP on Social Protection in 2010(35.6 % of GNP)
(December 3, 2012)
Eurostat - Ireland spent 29.6 % of GDP on social protection in 2010(35.6 % of GNP)
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution,Public Expenditure
Eurostat: Number at Risk of Poverty or Social Exclusion
(December 5, 2012)
Eurostat New Release: In 2011, 24% of the population were at risk of poverty or social Exclusion
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Evidence On The Incentive To Work
(May 8, 2013)
This note assesses recent evidence on the incentive to work. It discusses the measures by which economists gauge work incentives and outlines the results of various empirical studies. Despite a relatively generous welfare net and the costs associated with working, most of the evidence suggests that the majority of unemployed people would be better off in a job.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis,Supply-Side Reform
Fiscal Monitor February, 2017
(March 7, 2017)
Department of Finance, Fiscal Monitor February, 2017
Categories : Budget and Troika,Critical Analysis,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution
Gini Co-Efficients OECD
(February 2, 2012)
The Gini Coefficient is a measure of income inequality based on data relating to households’ disposable income. A Gini Coefficient of zero indicates perfect income equality, whereas a coefficient of one indicates perfect inequality.
Ireland’s Gini Coefficient (2008) was 0.293, which is below (more equal) the OECD average of 0.316. Preliminary figures for 2010 indicate a Gini coefficient of 0.34.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution
Growing Up In Ireland - Development from Birth to Three Years
(September 20, 2013)
Growing Up in Ireland Survey Report 5
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Household Finance And Consumption Survey, 2013, CSO
(January 30, 2015)
Household Finance and Consumption Survey, 2013, CSO
Categories : Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution,Public Expenditure
Household Indebtedness: Context, Consequence & Correction
(March 12, 2012)
Speech by The Governor of the Central Bank, Professor Patrick Honohan to the Limerick Law Society in the University of Limerick.
Categories : External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Income Distribution,Presentations/Conference
Impact Of Financial Turmoil On Households: A Cross Country Comparison
(April 5, 2012)
This paper compares the impact of the financial crisis on Irish households, with 23 other European countries. It finds that Irish households have lost a significant proportion of net worth compared with other countries, due to the substantial decline in house prices. Irish households have greatly increased their savings to reduce high debt levels and have decreased their personal debt levels more than any other country since 2008.
Categories : External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Income Distribution,Research Reports
Income And Expenditure Of Irish Households In 2009/10
(July 19, 2012)
By the Central Statistics Office
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution
Ireland's Competitiveness Challenge 2016, National Competitiveness Council, December 2016
(December 15, 2016)
Ireland's Competitiveness Challenge 2016, National Competitiveness Council, December 2016
Categories : Critical Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution
Ireland's Public Debt Burden
(June 11, 2015)
This note (updated) examines Ireland’s debt burden and also includes comparisons with other EU countries.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,Income Distribution,Public Expenditure,Taxation
Ireland's Public Debt Burden
(November 16, 2016)
While Ireland’s public debt burden is still relatively high, it is declining and the cost of servicing it will decline further as a share of Government revenue.
Categories : Debt & Deficits,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution,Public Expenditure
Ireland: Second Post-program Monitoring Discussions; Staff Report; January 2015
(January 30, 2015)
Ireland SECOND POST-PROGRAM MONITORING DISCUSSIONS; STAFF
REPORT; January, 2015 IMF
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution
Ireland: The Crisis And Its Aftermath
(March 18, 2014)
Ireland: The Crisis and Its Aftermath
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Labour Activation Programmes
(January 24, 2018)
The number of people on labour activation programmes has fallen by over 25 per cent or 24,000 in the last three years.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Low Skills Of The Irish Workforce
(February 17, 2014)
In a guest commentary, John Martin former Director for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs at OECD shows that the skill levels among the working-age population in Ireland are relatively low. Upskilling the adult population, especially in terms of the key information-processing skills, has to be a high priority for policy makers.
Categories : Income Distribution
Measuring Youth Unemployment
(November 6, 2013)
The conventional measure of youth unemployment does not account for comparatively higher participation in education by young people. This report contrasts the conventional measure with an alternative – the unemployment ratio.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Mortgage Restructures Data for Principal Dwelling Houses - End August 2013
(November 1, 2013)
The information represents mortgage restructures and arrears to the end of August 2013 for principal dwelling houses (PDH) for the 6 main banks which are part of the Central Bank’s Mortgage Arrears Resolution Targets. These lenders represent 90% of the market. The data has not gone through the lenders quality control process and is
unaudited.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
New OECD Data on Income Distribution
(May 16, 2013)
The latest Gini coefficients for Ireland are .311 in 2011 and .316 in 2010
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
OECD Taxing Wages 2011
(April 27, 2012)
This report finds that Ireland is among the OECD countries that levy a relatively low tax burden on labour income, particularly for single parents with low earnings. In 2000, the average tax wedge (income taxes plus employee and employer social security contributions minus cash transfers as a percentage of total labour costs) was below the OECD average for all family types in the Taxing Wages Report.
Between 2000 and 2011, the difference compared with the OECD average widened as Ireland reduced the tax wedge considerably except for the single taxpayers with low and high earnings. Over this period, the tax wedge declined by more than 23 percentage points for single parents with low earnings; they received more in government transfers than the taxes they paid. Their tax wedge was the lowest among the OECD countries in 2011.
Note: the Tax Wedge is the sum of personal income tax and employee plus employer social security contributions together with any payroll tax less cash transfers, expressed as a percentage of labour costs
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Income Distribution,Research Reports,Taxation
Public Service Performance Report 2016
(April 27, 2017)
Public Service Performance Report 2016
Department of Public Expenditure & Reform
Categories : Income Distribution,Public Expenditure
Regional GDP per capita in the EU in 2010
(April 3, 2013)
Regional GDP statistics adjusted for purchasing power parity. While Southern and Easter Ireland is among the leading 25 regions, the Border, Midland and Western region is below average. If GNP were used for Ireland instead of GDP, Ireland would fall from 3rd place in the country rankings to 11th.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Report on Child and Family Income Support
(February 20, 2013)
Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare
March 2012
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Report on Use of Tax Reliefs by High Income Taxpayers 2010
(August 21, 2012)
Report on the Use of Tax Reliefs by High Income Taxpayers 2012
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution,Taxation
Revenue Commissioners Statistical Report 2010
(February 28, 2012)
A report on personal incomes based on the tax year 2009. The statistics relate to income assessed for the tax year 2009 based on tax returns processed up to May 2011. PAYE data is based on completed end-of-year returns from employers of which up to 96% were processed in time to be included. The information relating to self-employed taxpayers represents 84% of the expected total tax returns.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution,Taxation
Revenue Commissioners Statistical Report 2011
(December 12, 2012)
A report on personal incomes based on the tax year 2010. The statistics relate to income assessed for the tax year 2010 based on tax returns processed up to April 2012. PAYE data is based on completed end-of-year returns from employers of which up to 96% were processed in time to be included. The information relating to self-employed taxpayers represents 83% of the expected total tax returns.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution,Taxation
Revenue Statistics Ireland 2014
(December 12, 2014)
The tax GNP ratio in Ireland in 2012 was 33.4% (OECd avg 33.7% of GDP)
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Income Distribution,Public Expenditure
Severe Material Deprivation
(November 23, 2017)
One in thirteen Irish people are severely materially deprived.
Categories : Critical Analysis,Debt & Deficits,Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Social Impact Assessment of the Main Welfare and Direct Tax Measures in Budget 2013
(April 16, 2013)
This document presents a social impact assessment of the main welfare and direct tax components of Budget 2013. In 2011, all social transfers reduced the at-risk-of-poverty rate from 51 per cent to 16 per cent
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution,Public Expenditure,Supply-Side Reform
Social Inclusion Monitor
(April 16, 2013)
The Social Inclusion Monitor reports progress towards the national social target for poverty reduction. It is primarily based on the findings of the Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2011, undertaken by the Central Statistics Office. The focus of the Monitor is on social and economic outcomes as they relate to poverty and social exclusion
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Survey Of Income And Living Conditions - Thematic Report On The Elderly
(August 13, 2012)
Special report on the income and living conditions of the elderly in 2004, 2009 & 2010.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution
Survey Of Income And Living Conditions 2014
(November 26, 2015)
Survey of Income and Living Conditions 2014 CSO
Categories : Budget and Troika,External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Income Distribution,Policy Briefs,Public Expenditure,Research Reports
Survey of Income and Living Conditions 2015
(February 1, 2017)
Survey of Income and Living Conditions 2015. Central Statistics Office.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Survey of Irish Benefits 2014
(October 21, 2014)
This paper, updated for 2014, surveys the benefit system in Ireland. It provides detail on social payments as a percentage of GDP, GNP and overall government expenditure and it compares the benefit system in Ireland to that of the UK.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution,Public Expenditure
Survey of the Benefit System in Ireland 2012
(May 15, 2012)
This paper surveys the benefit system in Ireland. It provides detail on social payments as a percentage of GDP, GNP and overall government expenditure and it compares the benefit system in Ireland to that of the UK.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure,Supply-Side Reform
Survey of the Irish Benefit System March 2013
(March 13, 2013)
This paper surveys the benefit system in Ireland. It provides detail on social payments as a percentage of GDP, GNP and overall government expenditure and it compares the benefit system in Ireland to that of the UK.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure,Supply-Side Reform
Survey On Income And Living Conditions
(April 17, 2014)
The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) in Ireland is a household
survey covering a broad range of issues in relation to income and living conditions.
It is the official source of data on household and individual income and also
provides a number of key national poverty indicators, such as the at risk of poverty
rate, the consistent poverty rate and rates of enforced deprivation. This report
presents the results for 2012 and comparable data for previous years.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution
Survey On Income And Living Conditions 2011 And Revised 2010 Results
(February 13, 2013)
The official source of data on household and individual income and living conditions in Ireland. Includes national poverty indicators, such as the at risk of poverty rate, the consistent poverty rate and rates of enforced deprivation
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Income Distribution
Survey on Income and Living Conditions. Thematic Report on the Elderly 2004-2011
(August 16, 2013)
The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) in Ireland is a household survey covering a broad range of issues in relation to income and living conditions.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
The Behaviour Of Wages In Ireland During The Recession
(May 30, 2014)
This report looks at the issue of downward wage rigidity - specifically, whether or not wages fell during the recession. Using a histogram approach, the authors find little evidence to suggest that structural or institutional factors prevented wages from falling during the period 2008 -2011
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis
The Distribution of Income and the Public Finances
(July 30, 2014)
The Distribution of Income and the Public Finances
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
The Distributional Effects of Fiscal Consolidation
(July 15, 2013)
This paper on the distributional effects of austerity finds that fiscal consolidations tend to raise inequality, decrease wage income shares and increase long-term unemployment.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
The EU Expenditure Benchmark: Operational Issues for Ireland in 2016
(April 8, 2015)
Analytical Note No. 7: April 2015
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Income Distribution
The Irish Benefit System 2012 - Inputs & Outcomes
(May 23, 2012)
Overview of the Irish benefit system and international evidence regarding the efficiency of the benefit system in terms of how well it reduces income inequality.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure,Supply-Side Reform,Working Papers
The Minimum Wage in Ireland
(March 27, 2013)
An analysis of the Irish minimum wage. Although our minimum wage is high by European standards, we also have high prices and high median wages.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis,Supply-Side Reform
The National Minimum Wage 2015
(July 30, 2015)
Recommendations from the Low Pay Commission for the National Minimum Wage 2015
Categories : Income Distribution,Policy Briefs,Public Expenditure
Tracker Mortgages; How Much Equity?
(June 12, 2014)
This note analyses mortgage arrears in Ireland with particular reference to tracker mortgages
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Understanding The Impact of the Great Recession on Income Inequality
(June 27, 2013)
Presentation by Cathal O’Donoghue, Teagasc Rural Economy and Development Programme.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Very Low Work Intensity In Ireland And The EU
(August 11, 2016)
Very Low Work Intensity In Ireland And The EU
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis
We Need A Fair Means Test For Third-level Grants
(March 20, 2013)
Attached is an article from the Irish Times of 19 March 2013 proposing that the means test for third level student grants should take account of capital assets.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Wealth of Older People in Ireland : North and South, CARDI, June 2014
(July 10, 2014)
Wealth of Older People in Ireland : North and South, CARDI, June 2014
Categories : Income Distribution
Welfare Targeting and Work Incentives
(June 12, 2014)
Tax and welfare policies must strike a balance between providing income support to those in need and maintaining a financial incentive to work. This paper focuses mainly on the latter objective, identifying the financial incentive to work as measured by the replacement rate – the ratio of out-of-work income to in-work income.
Categories : External Analysis,Income Distribution
Welfare Traps
(August 29, 2013)
Two welfare traps have been identified that could potentially lead to a financial disincentive to work. I discuss these traps in the context of on-going welfare reform.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Work Incentives
(January 27, 2014)
A key aim of public policy is to ensure that work pays while achieving adequate income protection for the unemployed. This is particularly important in the case of young people in order to avoid locking them into long-term unemployment which has very negative economic and social consequences in the longer-term.
Categories : Income Distribution,Our Analysis,Working Papers
Work Incentives
(February 4, 2015)
A key aim of public policy is to ensure that work pays while achieving adequate income protection for the unemployed. This is particularly important in the case of young people in order to avoid locking them into long-term unemployment which has very negative economic and social consequences in the longer-term. This note looks at some data on incentives to work.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Income Distribution,Our Analysis
Health
A Fair Deal For Home Care
(November 1, 2017)
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), more commonly referred to as the Fair Deal scheme, is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care.
This report examines the issues arising in the establishment of a similar scheme to cover the needs of those who require home care
Categories : Health,Our Analysis
Absenteeism in the HSE
(September 10, 2013)
High rates of absenteeism in the HSE often attract significant media and political attention due to the associated costs to the taxpayer. In addition to a substantial sick-pay bill, absenteeism may lead to increases in agency and overtime costs as replacements are found for sick and absent workers. This sentiment was expounded in 2012 by Health Minister James Reilly who claimed that the high expenditure on agency staff in the HSE is largely attributable to high levels of absenteeism.
Categories : Health,Our Analysis
Acute Hospital Services
(March 14, 2013)
Clinical data on in-patient and out-patient services
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health,Health Policy
Alcohol Consumption in Ireland. May 2015 OECD
(May 13, 2015)
Tackling Harmful Alcohol Use
Country note - Ireland
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health,Health Policy
Average Length Of Stay (ALOS) In Irish Hospitals
(May 22, 2013)
The average length of stay (ALOS) in hospitals is often used as an indicator of efficiency. Reducing the time spent in hospital reduces the cost per patient and allows more patients to be treated in a given period
Categories : Health,Our Analysis
Budget 2013 & 'Future Health'
(November 30, 2012)
Adjusting for our relatively young population, Ireland has the most expensive health system in Europe. The OECD ranks the productivity of the Irish health system 28th out of 28 and estimates that GDP could be increased by 4.8% if a series of reforms were undertaken. So there is compelling case on economic and health effectiveness grounds for addressing reform. The Government’s “Future Health” document is hugely significant in that, if acted upon, it will affect our well- being and economic and social performance like no other initiative. If we get it wrong, it will cause huge damage. If we get it right, it could be transformative in a positive sense.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Health,Health Policy,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure
Budget 2013 - The Case For Periodic Instead of Lump Sum Payments for Damages Arising Out of Alleged Medical Negligence
(August 20, 2012)
Key Point
We should move right away from lump sum to periodic payments in the case of medical negligence cases in Ireland. And this should happen before Budget 2013 is presented to the Oireachtas (Parliament) in December 2012. An excellent report explaining why this should happen, and how it should be done, was presented to the then Minister for Justice almost 2 years ago. Inaction will have many costs, not least that the Minister for Finance will have to find up to about €50 million right away that he (and we) can all ill afford
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Health,Health Policy,Our Analysis
Committee on the Future of Healthcare - Sláintecare Report (May, 2017)
(May 30, 2017)
Committee on the Future of Healthcare - Sláintecare Report (May, 2017)
Categories : Health,Health Policy,Oireachtas Committee
Community Health and Welfare Services
(March 14, 2013)
Information on Medical Card coverage, other health service schemes and food safety.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health,Health Policy
Designing The Future Health Basket
(April 23, 2014)
Background Policy Paper on the Designing the Future Health Basket
Categories : External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health
Expenditure and Outputs in the Irish Health System: A Cross Country Comparison
(October 1, 2012)
An analysis of the expenditure and outputs in the Irish health system and a comparison with other OECD countries. Ireland has the third highest expenditure in the OECD, and the report looks at whether the high level of spending corresponds to similarly high levels of output.
Categories : Health,Health Policy,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure
Future Health
(February 26, 2013)
Government’s proposed framework for reform of the health service, published in November 2012
Categories : External Analysis,Health,Health Policy,Public Expenditure
Health And Education: Are Our Priorities Right?
(May 7, 2014)
Relative spending on education versus health is low in Ireland compared to other EU countries when account is taken of our younger population.
Categories : Health,Health Policy,Our Analysis
Health At A Glance 2013
(January 15, 2014)
The 2013 Edition of Health at a Glance-OECD Indicators presents the most recent comparable data on key indicators of health and health systems across the 34 OECD member countries. Attached is a note on how Ireland compares on Key Measures.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health
Health Expenditure Statistics
(March 14, 2013)
Includes break-down of non-capital and capital expenditure on health
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health,Health Policy,Public Expenditure
Health Service Employment Statistics
(March 14, 2013)
A break-down of employment in the health service by role and location.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health,Health Policy
Health Service in Ireland: Key Points 2013
(November 22, 2013)
Ireland continues to make substantive headway in improving health outcomes, but more can be done in reducing risk-factors for major diseases and improving value-for-money in health spending,
according to a new OECD report.
Categories : External Analysis,Health
Health Service National Service Plan 2014
(December 18, 2014)
Health Service National Service Plan 2014
Categories : External Analysis,Health,Health Policy,Public Expenditure
Health Service National Service Plan 2014
(December 18, 2013)
Health Service National Service Plan 2014
Categories : External Analysis,Health
Health Status and Lifestyle
(March 14, 2013)
Contains a range of information on the health status of the Irish population, including self-reported health status and clinical data.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health,Health Policy
Healthy Life Years
(March 13, 2013)
At age 50 Irish men and women can expect to live more than 20 more years in good health
Categories : External Analysis,Health,Health Policy
HSE National Service Plan 2013
(February 26, 2013)
The National Service Plan 2013 sets out the type and volume of services to be delivered by the Executive in 2013
Categories : External Analysis,Health,Health Policy,Public Expenditure
HSE National Service Plan 2015
(November 27, 2014)
The National Service Plan for 2015, as required under legislation, sets out the type and volume of services, which will be provided across the health services within the funding allocated by Government and taking into consideration: Quality improvement and patient safety, reform of the health services & the quantum of services to be provided.
Categories : External Analysis,Health
Life Expectancy and Vital Statistics
(March 14, 2013)
Data on life expectancy, births, marriages and deaths, including age-standardised mortality rates
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health,Health Policy
Organ Donation – The Case For ‘Opt Out’ Rather Than ‘Opt In’.
(July 30, 2013)
When money is short, it is especially important to seek out those opportunities that make us better off, and don’t cost much.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Health,Our Analysis
Population and Population Projections
(March 14, 2013)
Demographic data for Ireland, including projected population and projected dependency ratios.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health,Health Policy
Raising Resources For UHI
(April 23, 2014)
Background Policy Paper on Raising Resources for Universal Health Insurance
Categories : External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Health
Report of the Expert Group on Resource Allocation and Financing in the Health Sector
(February 26, 2013)
The 2010 Ruane Report examines the current system for allocating resources in the health system, and suggests substantial changes so that resources can better support health care principles and goals.
Categories : External Analysis,Health,Health Policy
Self-Reported Health In Ireland
(February 2, 2015)
Self-Reported Health (SRH) is thought of by many as a "one-size fits all" measure of the overall health level of a population and thus has been suggested as a possible solution to measuring health outcomes and determining health needs. Ireland routinely performs well in international comparisons of this indicator. This note investigates whether Self-Reported Health is a good measure of population health.
Categories : Health,Health Policy,Our Analysis
Taxing Fat Is Unlikely To Make Us Thin.
(February 13, 2013)
A Fat Tax would be an inefficient and ineffective means of tackling obesity. It would come with a dramatically increased regulatory burden, and would hit the poorest hardest
Categories : Health,Our Analysis
The Establishment of Hospital Groups as a Transition to Independent Hospital Trusts
(May 22, 2013)
This report to the Minister for Health by Prof. John Higgins provides the underpinnings for the move towards Hospital Groups, and places it in a wider context of health reform.
Categories : External Analysis,Health
The Money Should Follow The Patient’s Best Health Care
(February 26, 2013)
Presentation by Prof. Ruane on the Report of the Expert Group on Resource Allocation and Financing in the Health Sector.
Categories : Health,Health Policy,Presentations/Conference,Public Expenditure
The Prevalence of Smoking in Ireland
(March 3, 2014)
In October 2013 the Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly launched the policy “A Tobacco Free Ireland by 2025”. The aim of the policy is to reduce the percentage of the population smoking to less than 5 per cent. This note sets out the latest position.
Categories : Health,Our Analysis
Well-Being & Economic Conditions in Ireland
(December 1, 2011)
During the period 1975-2011, there was no increase in self-reported life satisfaction despite the secular improvement in living standards in Ireland. This paper explores how macroeconomic conditions have affected unemployment, inflation, real income as well as well-being and mental health.
The overall effect of higher unemployment in this current recession is weaker then previous years. And it is having a much smaller impact on the birth rate than the recession of the early 1980’s.
Categories : External Analysis,Health,Health Policy,Working Papers
White Paper On Universal Health Insurance
(April 3, 2014)
The Path to Universal Healthcare. The government set out their model for Universal Health Insurance, as well as a road map for achieving it.
Categories : External Analysis,Health
Pension Reform
2010 Actuarial Review of The Social Insurance Fund
(September 20, 2012)
2010 Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund - KPMG June 2010
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform
2011 Annual Report of the Pensions Board
(June 25, 2012)
2011 Annual Report of the Pensions Board
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform
A Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018 - 2023
(February 28, 2018)
A Roadmap for
Pensions Reform
2018 - 2023
Categories : External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Pension Reform,Public Expenditure
Analysis Of Fiscal Incentives For Retirement Savings
(October 22, 2012)
This report presents an analysis of fiscal incentives for retirement savings – models and redistributive effects – in Ireland and comparison with other countries who have well established second pillar pension systems. Published in October 2012.
Categories : Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Research Reports
Auto-Enrolment Into Pensions: An Option For Ireland?
(March 5, 2014)
This commentary describes the policy of auto-enrolment in pension schemes.
Categories : Our Analysis,Pension Reform
Automatic Enrolment Boosts Pension Membership & Pension Saving Significantly In The UK.
(November 25, 2016)
Automatic enrolment boosts pension membership and pension saving significantly in the UK.
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform
Defined Benefit Pension Schemes Statistics 2014
(March 9, 2015)
Defined benefit schemes - Review of 2014 statistics
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Pension Reform
Financial Sustainability of the State Pension in Ireland
(December 17, 2015)
A report by Milliman, an actuarial consulting firm, on the Sustainability of the State Pension in Ireland concludes that “The State pension system is unsustainable in its current form but there is no easy solution to improve its sustainability”. Given the importance of the State pension in protecting people against poverty in old age, this is an issue that requires urgent action.
Categories : Critical Analysis,Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Public Expenditure
Fixing Our Broken Pensions - A Transforming Approach To Pensions Reform
(October 1, 2011)
This paper proposes the establishment of a statutory National Savings Fund (NSF) for supplementary pension provision. This would apply to all workers and wouldn’t differentiate between different types of economic status such as self-employed, farmers, private or public sector employees.
The proposal is designed to deal with the problems in the existing system.
These include the fact that pension coverage in the working population is too low with too many people likely to be dependent, either totally or in part, on the State Pension. Costs in the pension industry are too high. There is an unacceptable lack of transparency. Other problems include the reality that the funding of many pension schemes is inadequate and large public sector liabilities are unfunded. The different pension arrangements applying to people working in the public and private sectors are a source of social tension. In addition the current arrangements in respect of tax relief are in need of reform.
Categories : Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Policy Briefs
How The Irish Pension System Provides For Current Retirees
(December 1, 2014)
This note examines the data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) in relation to the incomes of the current population of retirees (aged over 65). It identifies the core determinants of these current incomes and suggests the policy implications that these results hold.
Categories : Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Public Expenditure
Informing Pension Reform
(April 1, 2011)
A module on the topic of pension coverage among workers aged 20-69 was included in the Quarterly National Household Survey in Q4 2009. This is a summary of the main findings.
Pension coverage for workers aged 20-69 was 54% in the first quarter of 2008. The rate for female workers was 50% and the rate for males was 56%. Irish nationals have a significantly higher rate of pension cover than Non-Irish nationals. The highest rate of pension cover is concentrated in the public administration and defence sector where more that nine in every ten workers have a pension. The hotels and restaurants sector continued to have the lowest rate of cover as less than one in four workers had a pension.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Pension Reform
Ireland: Pensions at a Glance 2013, OECD
(November 27, 2013)
Ireland: Pensions at a Glance 2013, OECD
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform
Limiting Pension Reliefs Targets for 2014
(October 11, 2013)
The attached report was commissioned by Publicpolicy.ie from Acuvest , an independent firm of Actuaries. We hope that it will help inform current debates on pensions policy. The authors are solely responsible for the analysis, views and conclusions reached in the reports.
Categories : Our Analysis,Pension Reform
National Pensions Framework
(December 1, 2010)
The aim of the National Pensions Framework is to deliver security, equity, choice and clarity for the individual. It also aims to increase pension coverage, particularly among low to middle income groups and to ensure that State support for pensions is equitable and sustainable. This document was published in Dec 2010.
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform,Policy Briefs
Pension Charges In Ireland 2012
(October 24, 2012)
2012 Report on Pension Charges in Ireland from the Department of Social Protection.
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform
Pension Scheme Facts
(October 19, 2012)
Pension Schemes regulated by the Pension Board
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Pension Reform
Public Service Pensions Accrued Liability
(April 7, 2014)
An actuarial valuation has been carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to update the accrued liability in respect of Public Service occupational pensions.
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform,Public Sector Reform
Reflections On 6 Years Of Public Policy
(March 26, 2018)
The time has come for us to close our doors as our funding from Atlantic Philanthropies has been exhausted.
We end with some final thoughts.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Policy Briefs,Property Tax,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Taxation,Water Policy
Reflections On 6 Years Of Public Policy
(March 26, 2018)
The time has come for us to close our doors as our funding from Atlantic Philanthropies has been exhausted.
We end with some final thoughts.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Policy Briefs,Property Tax,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Taxation,Water Policy
Review of the Irish Pension System April 2013
(April 23, 2013)
Review of the Irish Pension System April 2013
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform
Review of the Irish Pension System Presentation April 2013
(April 24, 2013)
Presentation by Mr John Martin, Director for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD at Launch of OECD Review of the Irish Pension System, 22 April, 2013.
Categories : Other Documents,Pension Reform
Supplementary Pensions and the Income of Ireland's Retirees
(December 7, 2012)
The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform
The Implications Of The UK Coalition Government's Reforms For Members Of The Public Service Pension Schemes
(October 26, 2012)
This paper examines the implications of the proposed reforms to the 4 largest UK public service pension schemes. These are The National Health Service, Teachers, Local Government and Civil Service schemes. It concludes that these reforms would reduce the value of pensions by more than one-third. It also compares the value of these schemes with average private sector schemes
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform
The Universal Social Charge Should Apply to State Contributory Pensions
(September 30, 2013)
This note explains why the The Universal Social Charge Should Apply to State Contributory Pensions
Categories : Our Analysis,Pension Reform
The Valuation of Public and Private Sector Pensions : Some Issues
(October 11, 2013)
The attached report was commissioned by Publicpolicy.ie from Acuvest , an independent firm of Actuaries. We hope that it will help inform current debates on pensions policy. The authors are solely responsible for the analysis, views and conclusions reached in the reports
Categories : Our Analysis,Pension Reform
Urgent Action Needed To Deliver Pension Promises
(November 1, 2016)
Ireland’s pension system promises adequate benefits in general but unless action is taken soon to address
Categories : Pension Reform
Who Saves For Retirement?
(December 1, 2011)
Research (published in Dec 2011) into participation of saving for retirement among employees in Britain finds that most saving is done through occupational schemes rather than personal pensions, and that patterns of occupational participation is driven by differences in eligibility.
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform,Working Papers
Local Government
No Documents Found
Public Sector Reform
A Survey Of The Benefit System In Ireland
(December 16, 2015)
This surveys highlights expenditure on social protection in Ireland by individual programmes and social payments.
Categories : Critical Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform
An Assessment of the Draft Public Service Pay Agreement
(March 26, 2013)
The gap between current Government spending and revenue as measured by the General Government Deficit in 2012 was over €13 billion (8.2 % of GDP). We are committed to reducing this deficit under the EU Excessive Deficit Procedure to below 3 % by 2015. The pay and pensions bill accounts for 35 % of Government spending. If public sector pay and pensions were to be fully protected, the burden of adjustment would have to fall on non-pay current spending, capital spending or increases in taxation or some combination of these. While these items will have to bear a share of the necessary adjustment, putting the total burden of adjustment on these items would be either more economically damaging or socially regressive than putting some of the burden on pay and pensions. The proposed reductions in incomes over €65,000 are clearly progressive. However it is difficult to assess the impact of the reductions in overtime, premium pay and other allowances as the incidence of these will vary considerably in individual cases.
Categories : Our Analysis,Public Sector Reform
An Assessment of the Draft Public Service Pay Agreement
(March 25, 2013)
This looks at the draft public service pay agreement and concludes that most alternative measures to the proposals are likely to be more socially regressive or economically damaging.
Categories : Our Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Analysis of Exchequer Pay and Pensions Bill 2007-2012
(March 11, 2013)
Analysis of Exchequer Pay and Pensions Bill 2007-2012
Categories : External Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform
Barriers To Outsourcing In the Public Sector
(January 9, 2013)
The present system of government accounting puts significant barriers in the way of achieving the optimum use of external service delivery.
Categories : Our Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Budget 2013 - University Collaboration - A Modest Proposal
(October 10, 2012)
Suggestions to merge Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Dublin (UCD) have been rejected. But they should emulate the US precedent and provide the facility for students, both
undergraduate and graduate, to take courses for credit in each other’s programmes. This should be done across the board, with a minimum of bureaucracy and no fees transfer; the only requirements
would be that students meet the necessary pre-requisites to take the course(s) in question, and that there is classroom or other relevant capacity in the receiving institution. It would help make the
programmes of both universities more internationally competitive, and will encourage specialisation and scale in research; the whole will be more than the sum of the parts. The TCD-UCD Innovation Alliance and a few Higher Education Authority (HEA) bottom-up collaborative initiatives show promise, but to achieve serious economies of scale and scope, access should be universal. What is good enough for Harvard and MIT should be good enough for UCD and TCD.
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Building A New Relationship With The Private Sector
(May 16, 2013)
A speech by the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr.Robert Watt, as part of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce SMART series on Thursday May 16th, 2013.
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Civil Service Renewal Plan
(October 30, 2014)
A three-year reform plan for the Civil Service, launched in October 2014
Categories : External Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform
Dail Electoral System
(September 24, 2013)
Convention on the Constitution: Fourth Report
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Data Everywhere
(July 30, 2014)
This blog post from Robert Watt, the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, looks at the government’s efforts to make more accessible data regarding the public finances.
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Design For Democracy
(January 1, 1986)
Many argue that change in our electoral system is necessary to improve the effectiveness of Government. This article (published in 1986) argues that more fundamental change is necessary and proposes the introduction of a separation of powers model.
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform,Working Papers
Dublin Bus : Funding and Financial Performance
(May 13, 2013)
Dublin Bus : Funding and Financial Performance
Categories : Our Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform
Fit for Purpose? Progress Report on Public Service Reform
(June 17, 2013)
Fit for Purpose? Progress Report on Public Service Reform
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Implementation Body Website
(February 28, 2012)
This is the website of the Implementation Body established in July 2010 to oversee and verify progress in implementing the provisions of the Public Service Agreement, also known as the Croke Park Agreement.
Categories : External Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Research Reports
Implementing EU Directives - An Opportunity to Lead.
(February 18, 2013)
There are many areas where the performance of the EU can be improved. Improving the governance of banks and addressing public debt have dominated recent efforts in Ireland and across the Union. Now that the promissory note aspect of our banking crisis has been addressed, there is an opportunity to focus on another area where the performance of the EU and Ireland is inadequate.
There has been significant policy failure in the implementation of EU directives in Ireland and other Member States. The European Affairs Committee of the Oireachtas (Parliament) should be given an explicit mandate to monitor and report on our performance. Ireland should use its influence in Europe to put this issue on the EU agenda
Categories : Budget and Troika,Chairmans Blog,Our Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform
Implementing EU Directives: How to Avoid Costly Failures
(May 10, 2013)
Failure to implement EU Directives correctly and in time leads to significant costs. The most recent illustration of this is the Waterford Crystal pension’s case. We need to put a process in place to ensure that the transposition of Directives is done competently and in time.
Categories : Our Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Invest In Cavan
(March 1, 2012)
We face serious challenges. Understanding the facts, and how the public interest is or is not served by the choices we face, is the critical first step towards protecting our economy, environment and social cohesion. And if you are looking for a place to invest, put Cavan on your short list.
Categories : Environment & Sustainability,Public Sector Reform
Ireland: Ex Post Evaluation Of Exceptional Access Under The 2010 Extended Arrangement- January 2015
(January 30, 2015)
IRELAND: EX POST EVALUATION OF EXCEPTIONAL ACCESS UNDER THE 2010 EXTENDED ARRANGEMENT - January 2015
Categories : Budget and Troika,Debt & Deficits,External Analysis,Financial Crisis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Public Sector Reform
Labour Relations Commission (LRC) Proposals for Public Service Agreement
(February 27, 2013)
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the proposed successor to the Croke Park Agreement
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Public Sector Reform
Labour Relations Commission Proposals for Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016
(May 24, 2013)
Labour Relations Commission Proposals for Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Local Authority Budgets in 2017
(January 11, 2017)
Local Authorities plan to spend €4.4 billion in 2017. This note accompanies the forthcoming update to the Local Authority Finances website with 2017 Budgets, and explains where the money will come from and what it will be spent on.
Categories : Critical Analysis,Local Government,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Supply-Side Reform
Local Authority Rent Arrears In Dublin
(November 23, 2016)
Of the close to 24,000 tenancies in Dublin City Council, 6,300 or 26% are in arrears to the value of 12 weeks rent or more.
Categories : Local Government,Our Analysis,Public Sector Reform
New Targeted Voluntary Redundancy Scheme in Public Sector
(January 22, 2013)
New Targeted Voluntary Redundancy Scheme in Public Sector
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Policy Perspectives: Staff Publications 2013
(January 23, 2014)
Policy Perspectives:
Staff Publications 2013
Department of Finance
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Presentation by Maureen Lynott, Chair of the Top Level Appointments Committee to Publicpolicy.ie on 11 September, 2012
(September 17, 2012)
Presentation by Maureen Lynott, Chair of the Top Level Appointments Committee to Publicpolicy.ie on 11 September, 2012
Categories : Our Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA Scores) Results 2012
(December 4, 2013)
An Overview of Ireland's Results Can be Found Here
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Progress Report on Implementation & Third Report of the Organisational Review Programme
(February 28, 2012)
The purpose of the Organisational Review Programme (ORP) is to help organisations ensure that they are fit for purpose in terms of the challenges they face. This is the first report and makes recommendations in relation to a number of Departments. Published in Feb 2012.
Categories : External Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform
Progress Report on Implementation of Government's Public Service Reform Plan. September 2012
(September 6, 2012)
"Progress Report on Implementation of Government's Public Service Reform Plan".
September 2012
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Public Sector Reform - Address by Paul Haran at the MacGill Summer School 2012
(August 21, 2012)
The attached speech on Public Sector Reform was delivered by Paul Haran former Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment at the MacGill Summer School on 25 July, 2012
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Public Sector Reform - The Balance Sheet
(August 21, 2012)
The attached speech on Public Sector Reform was delivered by Robert Watt Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at the MacGill Summer School on 25 July, 2012
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Public Sector Reform -The Balance Sheet? A Paper by Robert Watt
(August 22, 2012)
The attached speech on Public Sector Reform was delivered by Robert Watt Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at the MacGill Summer School on 25 July, 2012
Categories : Presentations/Conference,Public Sector Reform
Public Sector Trends 2012
(November 23, 2012)
This Report issued by the Institute of Public Administration brings together Irish and international indicators on the size, efficiency and legitimacy of the public sector and institutions of State
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Public Service Pay & Numbers (2012)
(March 22, 2012)
Data on public service numbers, pay and pensions.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform
Public Service Pensions Accrued Liability
(April 7, 2014)
An actuarial valuation has been carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to update the accrued liability in respect of Public Service occupational pensions.
Categories : External Analysis,Pension Reform,Public Sector Reform
Public Service Reform In Ireland
(May 21, 2014)
Presentation By Robert Watt To IIEA 15 May 2014
Categories : External Analysis,Presentations/Conference,Public Sector Reform
Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016
(January 15, 2014)
The government’s strategy for public sector reform. Published in January, 2014
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Public Service Reform – Where Now?
(May 23, 2013)
Speech by the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Robert Watt at the IPA Governance Forum Morning Conference: “Rationalising State Agencies: Where are the Benefits”
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Reflections On 6 Years Of Public Policy
(March 26, 2018)
The time has come for us to close our doors as our funding from Atlantic Philanthropies has been exhausted.
We end with some final thoughts.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Policy Briefs,Property Tax,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Taxation,Water Policy
Reflections On 6 Years Of Public Policy
(March 26, 2018)
The time has come for us to close our doors as our funding from Atlantic Philanthropies has been exhausted.
We end with some final thoughts.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Policy Briefs,Property Tax,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Taxation,Water Policy
Report of Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance May 2014
(June 13, 2014)
Report of Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance May 2014
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Report of Top Level Appointments Committee 2013 (October 2014)
(October 20, 2014)
Report of Top Level Appointments Committee 2013 (October 2014)
Categories : External Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform
Report on Penal Reform
(March 27, 2013)
Report of a sub-committee on penal reform recommending a ‘de-incarceration’ strategy that aims to reduce the prison population by one third over a ten year period
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Report on the Measurement of the Regulatory Burden Imposed on Business by Revenue
(August 22, 2012)
Report on the Measurement of the Regulatory Burden Imposed on Business by Revenue
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Public Sector Reform
Report On Top Level Appointments To 31 December 2012
(September 11, 2013)
Report On Top Level Appointments To 31 December 2012
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Response Burden Barometer 2011
(August 24, 2012)
This report measures the burden of red tape CSO reporting requirements place on businesses. It is estimated that the burden fell by 28% between 2012 and 2011.
Categories : Fiscal Fact Sheets,Public Sector Reform
Running The Public Sector Better
(May 3, 2005)
This 2005 paper reviews the progress in public sector reform and proposes further some changes that are necessary. It highlights the need to modernise the financial accounting systems in the public sector.
Categories : Our Analysis,Presentations/Conference,Public Sector Reform
Second Progress Report Of The Implementation Body Public Service Agreement 2010-2014
(June 13, 2012)
The report sets out progress for the year ended March 2012.
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform,Research Reports
Strengthening Civil Service Accountability & Performance of our Civil Service: How and When
(July 30, 2014)
Paper by Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Robert Watt, delivered at MacGill Summer School, 23 July 2014.
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Strengthening The Capacity Of The Department Of Finance: Report Of The Independent Review Panel
(December 1, 2010)
A review of the Department of Finance’s policy advice and performance over the past 10 years with recommendations on how best the Department might adapt to meet the challenges of the future. Published in Dec 2010.
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform,Research Reports
Sustainable Governance Indicators 2015 : Ireland's Ranking. Bertelsmann Foundation
(July 13, 2015)
Sustainable Governance Indicators 2015 : Ireland's Ranking. Bertelsmann Foundation
Categories : External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Public Sector Reform
The ICE Report (1975)
(October 6, 2012)
The summary of a report into the form and function of the Inter Cert exam, now the Junior Cert. Released in 1975, but relevant for the current policy debate.
Categories : Our Analysis,Public Sector Reform,Research Reports
The Present System Of Government Accounting Is No Longer Fit For Purpose
(May 4, 2012)
“We have the most crude accounting tools. It's tragic because our accounts and our national arithmetic doesn't tell us the things that we need to know.†Susan George, American Activist.
Categories : Our Analysis,Public Sector Reform,Working Papers
The Public Sector Pay Gap
(December 1, 2011)
Investigation of the public-private wage differentials in ten euro area countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain). Notable differences emerge across countries, with Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain exhibiting higher public sector premia than other countries. Published in Dec 2011.
Categories : External Analysis,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Research Reports
The Recruitment, Retention, Performance And Development Of Senior Civil Servants In Ireland
(December 8, 2014)
Top Level Appointments Committee Final Report
Categories : External Analysis,Policy Briefs,Public Sector Reform
The Role of the Government Economic Service in Scotland
(May 30, 2013)
A presentation by the Chief Economic Adviser to the Scottish Government, given to the ESRI on April 26th, 2013. In the context of the establishment of the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service, Dr. Gillespie outlines the role of the Government Economic Service in Scotland.
Categories : External Analysis,Public Sector Reform
Water Policy
Decision on Water Charges by the Commission for Energy Regulation
(September 30, 2014)
Press Release - Decision on Water Charges by the Commission for Energy Regulation
Categories : External Analysis,Water Policy
Domestic Water Charges In Europe
(April 30, 2013)
Domestic Water Charges in Europe
Categories : Environment & Sustainability,Our Analysis,Taxation,Water Policy
Domestic Water Charges In Europe
(May 1, 2013)
This note sets out data on the level of domestic water charges in Europe.
Categories : Our Analysis,Water Policy
Domestic Water Use And Charges: Evidence From The USA
(November 12, 2014)
Domestic Water Use and Charges: Evidence from the US
Categories : Our Analysis,Water Policy
Effective Water Pricing Is Key To Ensuring Supply
(November 11, 2013)
The recent water shortage in Dublin is largely the result of a policy decision the government of the day enacted in 1997; this decision shifted the costs of storing, treating and supplying water from the domestic water user to the general taxpayer
Categories : Our Analysis,Water Policy
Eurostat: Sector Classification of Irish Water
(July 29, 2015)
Eurostat: Sector Classification of Irish Water
Categories : External Analysis,Fiscal Fact Sheets,Water Policy
Future Funding of Domestic Water Services Report
(April 12, 2017)
Future Funding of Domestic Water Services Report.
Oireachtas Committee
Categories : Environment & Sustainability,External Analysis,Water Policy
Getting Water Metering Right
(April 25, 2012)
Some years ago, I spent an afternoon in the control room of the Singapore Electronic Road Pricing system with Eddie Lim Sing Loong, Engineer, Electronic Road Pricing. He explained that their system works as follows: you are charged for using the road, and this charge varies depending on the road and the time of day, with the price level designed to give you a smooth and fast journey. This approach has many advantages: before you set out, you know how long your journey will take, and that traffic will flow smoothly –time and energy are saved, stress and pollution are reduced, and much of the revenue generated is recycled to finance public transport; Singapore has a state of the art mass transit system.
Categories : Our Analysis,Water Policy
How Should We Pay For Water
(January 11, 2017)
The Report by the Expert Commission on the Funding of Domestic Public Water Services in Ireland has been submitted on schedule to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services.
Categories : Environment & Sustainability,Water Policy
Irish Water: Phase 1 Report
(January 1, 2012)
Report recommends a public utility model for the provision of water services in Ireland. The new utility would have full responsibility for the water cycle from abstraction to waste water treatment and sludge disposal.
Categories : External Analysis,Research Reports,Water Policy
Letter From California - Hospitals, Highways And Water
(April 3, 2014)
California continues to be a world leader in most of what it does and how it does it. A recent visit yielded some good (the value of scale, volunteers, transparency), and not so good (labelling of highway exits, water policy and management) examples
Categories : Other Documents,Water Policy
Meeting The Water Reform Challenge
(March 11, 2012)
This report provides Governments with practical advice and policy tools to pursue urgent reform in their water sectors. It examines three fundamental areas that need to be addressed: financing of the water sector; governance and institutional arrangements; and coherence between water policies and policies in place in other sectors of the economy.
Categories : External Analysis,Research Reports,Water Policy
Q: How Do You Want To Pay For Water?
(June 19, 2013)
The results of a nationally-representative survey that asked respondents to state how they would prefer to be charged for water. Nearly 50% of respondents opted for a Pay By Use scheme, while 34% were in favour of a Flat Charge and 16% preferred to pay through an increase in General Taxation.
Categories : Our Analysis,Water Policy
Reflections On 6 Years Of Public Policy
(March 26, 2018)
The time has come for us to close our doors as our funding from Atlantic Philanthropies has been exhausted.
We end with some final thoughts.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Policy Briefs,Property Tax,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Taxation,Water Policy
Reflections On 6 Years Of Public Policy
(March 26, 2018)
The time has come for us to close our doors as our funding from Atlantic Philanthropies has been exhausted.
We end with some final thoughts.
Categories : Budget and Troika,Our Analysis,Pension Reform,Policy Briefs,Property Tax,Public Expenditure,Public Sector Reform,Taxation,Water Policy
Report Of Working Group On Future Funding Model For Irish Water
(November 16, 2017)
Report of Working Group on Future Funding Model for Irish Water
Categories : External Analysis,Policy Briefs,Water Policy
Report on the Funding of Domestic Public Water Services in Ireland November 2016
(November 30, 2016)
Report on the Funding of Domestic Public Water Services in Ireland
November 2016
Categories : Environment & Sustainability,Water Policy
Submission by Publicpolicy.ie to Commission on Water Charges October 2016
(October 14, 2016)
Submission by Publicpolicy.ie to Commission on Water Charges October 2016
Categories : Water Policy
Submission to Department of Environment on Water Policy
(March 15, 2012)
Publicpolicy.ie made a submission to the Department of the Environment on water policy. It makes seven recommendations, including support for metering.
Categories : Our Analysis,Policy Briefs,Water Policy
The Pros & Cons Of Various Schemes Of Charging For Water
(July 3, 2012)
This paper provides some evidence on the pros & cons of various schemes of charging for water
Categories : Environment & Sustainability,External Analysis,Water Policy
Water Charges: An Interim Scheme?
(February 8, 2013)
Under the EU/IMF Programme, Ireland is committed to start charging for water by the end of 2013. This documents outlines the case for these charges.
Categories : Environment & Sustainability,Our Analysis,Water Policy
Water for Poor People - Lessons from France & Belgium
(June 20, 2012)
Paper delivered by Dr Henri Smets at the Seminar on the 19th June.
Categories : Environment & Sustainability,External Analysis,Water Policy
Water for Poor People - The Case for Affordable Water
(June 25, 2012)
Henri Smets sets the international context for water pricing: “In all countries, it is now accepted that water users should pay to a very large extent for the water they use, and the amount of payment be proportionate to water consumption. The Irish model of free water for domestic users was hardly known to the rest of Europe, and did not inspire the policy of any country in Western Europe.”
Categories : Chairmans Blog,Environment & Sustainability,Our Analysis,Water Policy
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