asked the Minister for Local Government if he will state the names of the firms who have contracted to supply medicines, etc., required by local authorities for the health services for the current period and the rate-of discount given by each on requisitions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medicine Contracts.
Particulars regarding official contractors appointed and the rates and conditions at which they are accepted for the supply of commodities under the Local Authorities (Combined Purchasing) Act, 1925, are treated as confidential and are disclosed only to the local authorities and the contractors concerned. In each area the appointed contractors for medicines, drugs and medical and surgical appliances in respect of the current period were those offering the highest discounts off the prescribed lists.
Is the Minister aware that a firm of manufacturing chemists which manufactures medicines only in England has procured one of these contracts for the current year?
I could not say that.
Can the Minister say if a firm manufacturing only in Ireland was defeated for one of these contracts because the discount was one-half per cent less than the English firm's contract price? Is he aware that, as a result of that, upwards of 60 men have been dismissed by this Irish manufacturing concern and that of these only from ten to 15 may be re-employed in the distribution of medicines which are now being supplied by an English firm?
My information is that in each case the firm offering the highest discount off the prescribed list was accepted.
Forty men were dismissed.
Is there no preference given to Irish manufacturers of medicines?
The same preference as you gave.
I do not think the Minister for Industry and Commerce is in a position to answer. I am not aware that he was ever in Local Government.
You were in three Departments and you were fired out of one after the other.
I was not carried in on Deputy Oliver Flanagan's tail like the Deputy.
Would the Minister refer the subject matter of this question to the Minister for Social Welfare to have it put before the Commission on Emigration?