asked the Minister for Finance why a tender received from a company in County Laois (name supplied) for 2,500 box files and 10,000 lever arch files for the Stationery Office was not successful.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Laois Site Tender.
12.
It is not the practice to disclose particulars of tendering for Government contracts.
I might mention, for the Deputy's information, that the Stationery Office did not in recent years seek tenders for box files or lever arch files in the quantities mentioned in the question.
The latest tenders for box files were sought in February, 1975. The contract was awarded to the supplier submitting the lowest tender.
Lever arch files were last ordered over a year ago in a much smaller quantity than mentioned in the question. The contract was again awarded to the lowest tenderer.
Was it an Irish firm that got the the tender?
I have not got the name of the firm which got the tender.
I am told that those have been brought from Czechoslovakia through an agent and that this agent tendered here.
The Deputy may not embark on a speech. He knows that.
I am not. I think the Minister is not aware of this. I want to make the House aware of it. An agent got the tender and brought those files in from Czechoslovakia. A company that was getting the contract for a number of years were too high. Those files were brought in at low cost from Czechoslovakia.
The Deputy must know he is not conforming to procedure at Question Time. The Deputy is making a speech.
I want to make the House aware that the company I am talking about had to go on a working week of two days and the workers had to go on social welfare benefits.
The Deputy will have to find another opportunity of raising this matter by way of a speech.
This is a very important question. We are talking about employment.
I am sure the Deputy appreciates that this is Question Time. He should pursue this matter by way of a brief supplementary question.
Thousands of jobs are at stake.
(Interruptions.)
I am asking Deputies for co-operation at Question Time. Will the Deputy conclude by asking a question and allow us to proceed properly?
All I can say to the Deputy is that I am aware the Government are using every device available to them to ensure that Irish firms get contracts.
Is the Minister aware that we will have files from Czechoslovakia in this House? It is a bloody shame.
The Deputy has already said that. Question No. 13.
Was the Minister aware, when accepting this tender, that Czechoslovakia was the country of manufacture?
The Minister better get the Minister for Finance.
I asked a very important question.
I have no control over these matters.
I asked was the Minister aware, when the tender was accepted, that the files were to be manufactured in Czechoslovakia.
I cannot compel any Member in the House to speak if he does not want to.
I simply cannot answer that question. I said I have not the information in the file.