andMr. Molloy asked the Minister for Transport and Power the total value of foreign manufactured goods purchased in 1975 through Irish agents by his Department and any State-sponsored bodies under his control, excluding goods not manufactured in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foreign Goods Purchases.
2.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 10th February to a question on foreign goods purchases.
My Department's expenditure records would not enable me to identify how much is spent through Irish agents on foreign goods excluding goods not manufactured in Ireland.
The Deputy will appreciate that so far as the State-sponsored bodies are concerned the purchase of goods required in their operations is a matter of day-to-day administration.
Is the Minister aware that Aer Rianta placed their printing order for the mail order catalogue in England on this occasion, and is he satisfied that this should have been done?
I am so aware. I would prefer to see that order printed in this country but I should tell the Deputy that of the tenders received the one that has been accepted by Aer Rianta was some 40 per cent lower than the lowest tender from this country. Aer Rianta went back and discussed the matter with the lowest Irish tenderer. He was unable to adjust his price except to the extent that his second tender was 32 per cent above that submitted by the lowest tenderer.
In view of the small amount of money involved in the printing of this catalogue and because of the fact that this particular activity of Aer Rianta is one of the more profitable ones, surely they should have been asked to carry some loss in the amount of the tender in order to have it printed in this country?
Yes, I think they would have been prepared to carry some loss, but a gap of 32 per cent was too much. I am constantly writing to and exhorting the various State companies under my control to keep their costs as low as possible and to keep their position as competitive as possible.
Could the Minister say what the total amount of the tender was?
No, I could not.
Were tenders for that contract invited by way of public advertisement?
I could not say. I know there were a number of Irish tenders and a number of foreign tenders but how they were invited I do not know, whether it was by public advertisement or whether they were just asked.
Is the Minister aware of a statement in newspapers recently that selected companies were invited to tender and that it was not advertised publicly? Is the Minister aware that none of the printing establishments in Galway were invited to tender for this work and that certainly one of them was competent to undertake the work?
I am sorry, I just do not know how the tenders were invited. More Irish people were invited to tender than foreigners.
That is grand, but is the Minister not concerned that this work could have been done in Ireland if tenders had been invited properly and if every printer had been given an opportunity of tendering for the work?
I am concerned that the work should be done in Ireland. I would think that Aer Rianta from their experience and the advice they sought on this would have invited as many Irish people as possible. I am sure that was done.
It is surprising, in view of the size of the major contract placed by Verolme abroad, that the Minister could not at least endeavour to give figures for his Department. Surely his must be the one where there is enormous expenditure outside the State? Could he now tell us the exact amount of money being paid for the two vessels ordered by Irish Shipping abroad?
This question has been on the paper a few times. I have not got it here before me. If the Deputy will put down a question——
No changes have taken place.
The Deputy said Verolme. I presume he means Irish Shipping.
Placed by Irish Shipping. Verolme did not get it.
If the Deputy wants an answer to that he should put down a question on it.