Vol. 432 No. 2
92 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which Irish manufactured office supplies and equipment, including computer supplies, are provided to his Department or to offices the Estimate for which falls within his group; the extent to which such requirements are met by overseas manufacturers where Irish alternatives exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Office supplies and equipment, including computer supplies, are purchased on the basis of open competitive tendering in accordance with Government contracts procedures and the prevailing EC Directives. All Irish manufacturers and suppliers are given the opportunity to tender and almost all such items are supplied by Irish companies.
The extent to which these requirements are met through Irish suppliers by items of overseas manufacture, where Irish alternatives might exist, is not readily available.
93 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine the degree to which Irish manufactured office supplies and equipment, including computer supplies, are provided to his Department or to offices, the Estimate for which falls within his group; the extent to which such requirements are met by overseas manufacturers where Irish alternatives exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Department purchases office and computer supplies both from Irish retailers and through the Government Supplies Agency. In the time available since the Deputy tabled the question, and given extensive use by the Department of suppliers, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive answer to the question.
However, approximately 13 per cent of the Department's requirements of stationery (with the exception of paper) is manufactured by Irish companies. The bulk of our requirements for paper used is supplied through the Government Supplies Agency. We understand that most is imported. Approximately 25 per cent of computer equipment recently purchased by the Department is assembled in Ireland.
The Department complies with European Community competition law in relation to its purchase of goods and within this context Irish manufactured goods are evaluated on the same basis as non-Irish manufactured goods.
