asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if it is correct that contracts for engraving have been given by the Post Office to firms and persons outside Ireland and that Irish citizens have been refused contracts to do the work, and if he will state why the Department prefers the work to be done by non-nationals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Post Office Contracts.
I am particularly anxious to allot contracts for engraving to Irish firms. Before allotting such contracts, competitive tenders are invited and Irish firms who are likely to be interested are invited to tender. In the case of recently placed contracts, only one Irish firm replied to the invitation to tender, and the prices quoted by it were so high as to prevent a contract being allotted to it.