Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 April 2005
110 Ms Burton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress made with regard to implementation of the recommendation made in the recent report of Mr. Dermot Quigley that his Department should review and consolidate its internal advice on all aspects of procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11060/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraSubstantial progress has been made by my Department in implementing the recommendation regarding procurement contained in the Quigley report. Procurement guidelines and practices in the Department have been reviewed and a set of consolidated guidelines has been made available to all staff. Revised procedures have being put in place to strengthen monitoring and control of procurement and intensive briefing and refresher training is being arranged for all staff engaged in procurement. Reference material on procurement has also been published on to the Department's intranet and is readily available to all staff.
Additional resources are also being allocated to the Department's internal audit unit, and to its organisation unit which coordinates advice and monitoring in relation to the Department's procurement activities.
I am confident that these arrangements will enable my Department to achieve the improvement and consolidation of its procurement arrangements recommended by the Quigley report.
