Reporting for Merchanting UNECE, Geneva – 24 April 2008 Ireland’s paper: –Discusses the history of reporting for merchanting activity –Explains the shortcomings of the existing approach –Examines the strengths and weaknesses of the latest proposals –Identifies the issue of merchanting of services –Clarifies CSO Ireland’s pragmatic approach to reporting merchanting of service activity Agenda item 9

Reporting for Merchanting UNECE, Geneva – 24 April 2008 The paper argues that: –many of the problems of the existing reporting approach are resolved though some remain – do delegates agree with Ireland’s conclusions? –That merchanting of services is an issue of increasing significance – do delegates agree? –The recent SNA/BPM revision processes may have overlooked the merchanting of services issue or, at least, not clarified the required reporting – do delegates agree? –That the ‘net’ approach to reporting merchanting of services is an appropriate pragmatic solution – do delegates agree?

Reporting for Merchanting UNECE, Geneva – 24 April 2008 Are countries generally experiencing the issue of merchanting of services? If so: –How significant is the issue? –Are we all talking about the same thing? –How are countries reporting presently? –Has reporting been consistent over time?