Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Apr 1996

Vol. 464 No. 4

Written Answers. - Fisheries Research Vessel.

Desmond J. O'Malley

Question:

46 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for the Marine the number of Irish yards which tendered for the fisheries research vessel; and the criteria used in the selection process which resulted in the order being placed with a Dutch yard. [8205/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

The Marine Institute, with 75 per cent funding from the European Regional Development fund, is purchasing a new research vessel to replace the research vessel Lough Beltra which is nearing the end of its useful life.

Following advertising in the national press, trade journals and the Official Journal of the European Union in September and October, 1995, seven shipyards submitted tenders based on the specification and plan prepared by the Marine Institute. Two of these were Irish.

The tender documentation provided that the contact would be awarded to the most economically advantageous tender with regard to the following: demonstrable relevant experience and technical merit; price quoted and value for money; awarding authority inspection of financial records and at its option the furnishing by the supplier of a performance guarantee; compliance with appropriate national and EU tax clearance procedures and period for completion.

In the view of a technical evaluation committee set up by the Marine Institute to consider the tenders received, the tender from Scheepswerf Visser, B.V., Den Helder, Holland, best fitted these criteria. In particular, the Dutch tender was the lowest and had the shortest period of completion. The Marine Institute Board accordingly recommended that the contract be awarded to Scheepswerf Visser B.V.

The tenders from the Irish yards were at least 25 per cent dearer than the tender from Scheepswerf Visser and they could not be considered to offer best value for money on the basis of the published award criteria.