asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that the firm of Messrs. Boileau and Boyd have for over twenty-five years held the contracts for the supplying of drugs and medicines to the Unions, Hospitals and Dispensaries all over Ireland; that the contract has now been transferred to a cross-Channel firm resulting, it is stated, in the dismissal of a number of the regular employees of the Dublin firm; if he will state what was the difference as between the tender of Messrs. Boileau and Boyd and that of the Liverpool firm; if the tender of the Dublin firm included the cost of delivery to the various Unions, Hospitals, and Dispensaries throughout the country, and if that of the latter was for the delivery at the nearest railway station; if he is aware that under the new arrangement delays occur in transit and if complaints to this effect have been received; and whether in view of these and other circumstances, he will state if consideration will be given to such matters, before contracts are placed with cross-Channel or other foreign firms in the future.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - MEDICINE CONTRACTS.
Prior to the establishment, a few years ago, of the combined purchasing scheme, contracts of the nature referred to were made separately. Various firms, including some from outside of Ireland, held these contracts. I have no knowledge as to any consequences which may have followed to any firm which did not succeed in competition for current contracts. The accepted tenders were as follows, and the percentages I quote indicate the discounts allowed by the firms off the prescribed or standard prices.
|
Firm. |
Dublin. |
Cork. |
Elsewhere. |
|
Evans, Sons, Lescher and Webb |
25% |
—— |
25% |
|
Fieldings, Cork |
—— |
28% |
—— |
|
Messrs. Boileau and Boyd, Dublin, tendered |
15% |
13% |
12½% |
The discount of the accepted contractor for places other than Dublin or Cork was, therefore, double that of the Dublin contractor, and while the Cork firm were prepared to allow 28% discount for supplies to Cork, the Dublin firm would allow only 15% for supplies to Dublin. The tender of the Dublin firm included cost of delivery as stated. The contractors selected also undertook to deliver into the various institutions, etc., and not to the nearest railway station. I am not aware of any delays taking place nor have I received any complaints. As regards the last sentence of the question, the Deputy may feel quite assured that no material considerations have been overlooked.
Would the Minister say if he has received complaints from the Wexford County Board of Health to the effect that these people will only deliver to the nearest railway station?
I have not heard any such complaint.
Is the Minister aware that his action in giving sanction to this contract has resulted in the services of 15 men being dispensed with, men who had a service of from 35 years to 2 years? Are not these matters that should be taken into consideration when giving a contract like this to a foreign firm?
The Minister stated that tenders for this particular item were invited under the Combined Purchasing Act. If that is so, I would like to know if the Advisory Committee that was to be set up under the Act was consulted in connection with these contracts, and if not, why not?
I would require notice of that question.
Has the Advisory Committee been set up?
I am not officially aware of it.
Is the Minister unofficially aware of it?
asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state the difference in the amounts of the tender of the foreign firm who secured the contract for medicine in the Saorstát and that of Messrs. Boileau and Boyd, the Irish firm, and if he will state whether consideration was given to the charges for delivery from railway stations of the goods supplied by the foreign firm; if he is aware that fifteen hands have been dismissed and are now drawing unemployment benefits from the State as a result, it is stated, of the contract leaving the Saorstát.
I take it the reply to the last question is intended to be a reply to this one also.
It is practically the same answer.
Mr. BYRNE
Might I press the Minister for a reply to the supplementary question put to him a moment ago, whether any consideration was given to the disemploying of 15 men with a service ranging from 35 years to 2 years, all of whom are now going on the dole to be paid by the Irish taxpayers? Was that matter taken into consideration at all?
I would like to know from the Minister whether the contractors are required to deliver the goods in each dispensary area. My information is that they are not doing so. They are not supplying the goods to each institution.
They have undertaken to supply the goods to each institution.
You ought to see then that they carry it out.
All relevant facts have been taken into consideration, but the Deputy must be aware that there is a limit as to how far we can place a burden on the ratepayers in order to bolster up home manufacture.
I cannot understand what the Minister means by that answer, and would he give a clear explanation of it? I understand that when the advertisements were issued asking tenders for medicines, it was stated definitely that they should be delivered to each institution, and therefore I do not see how an extra charge will fall on the ratepayers if these be the terms of the contract that was accepted.
I have definitely stated that the firm has undertaken to supply the goods directly to the Institutions concerned.
Mr. BYRNE
Do you mean without any extra fee beyond the price at which they tendered?
There is no extra fee.
Would the Minister state how far this policy of "No Irish need apply" is to be carried by the Government? We want to know where we are now.