Vol. 422 No. 4
100 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline (a) the procedures his Department have to monitor the operation by the public service of the Guidelines for Public Tendering and (b) the procedures which are available to contractors for goods or services who believe that public institutions are not complying with the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Department of Finance have a general supervisory role in relation to purchasing by Government Departments and offices. It issues guidelines aimed at ensuring that value for money is obtained and that competition for contracts is as wide as possible.
Where a Department or office proposes to depart from normal contracting rules for contracts over a certain value, it must get the approval of the Government Contracts Committee, which is chaired by an official of my Department.
Spending by Departments and offices is subject to the normal audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. I am satisfied that these arrangements ensure adequate monitoring of contracts placed by Government Departments and offices.
Contracting procedures of State bodies and institutions are a matter for the bodies and institutions themselves and any complaints should be taken up with the body itself or with the Minister to whom the body reports.
