Vol. 476 No. 4
5 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for the Marine if all conditions relating to public procurement and correct procedure in relation to awarding of contract have been complied with in relation to the Shannon air/sea rescue contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7032/97]
Back to contracts again.
I heard what the Minister said earlier.
My objective in relation to air/sea rescue is to deliver the highest achievable standards of reliability and quality of service while ensuring the best value for the State resources. During the tendering process for the west coast air/sea rescue service strict tender guidelines were adhered to and my Department complied fully with Government contracts procedures and the relevant EU public procurement directive relating to the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public service contracts. Directive 92/50/EEC of 18 June 1992. The three tenders received were evaluated by a multi-disciplinary, expert helicopter contract working group and I stress that they were assessed on an equal basis. I am fully satisfied that my Department's conduct of the tender and its evaluation were both ethical and in compliance with the EU public procurement directive.
I could forgive you, a Cheann Comhairle, for thinking all supplementary questions had been exhausted. Were the Minister and his Department aware that the two new companies bidding for the contract would have had to go to the same supplier for particular specialised equipment and both would have been constrained by the same delay as regards date of supply? Is it true that the differential between the successful contract and the next contract, at about 6 per cent, and the difference in the level of service being delivered is not huge?
In advertising for tenders one must be reasonable. It was felt that fixing the date of 28 February 1997 was both reasonable and achievable in accordance with the best advice available to us. When one goes to tender one does not know who will offer prices in accordance with the tenders advertised. To say that one company might or might not succeed is not reasonable in tendering terms. As to the price, it is not common practice to announce who tendered what. The company which won the contract offered the service required, complied with all the conditions of the tender and charged the lowest price. On that basis, I think if the Deputy was in my position he would do precisely the same thing. If he was satisfied he was getting the best service from a reliable company at the lowest price, he would give the contract to whoever met all three conditions. It was on that basis that Bond Helicopters received the contract.
Will the Minister extend the same offer to me as he did to other Deputies — that is, will he allow me a closer look at the matter?
By all means, I have no problem with that. I believe that a Member of this House is entitled to be satisfied that everything was done in accordance with the rules and regulations. I invite him to the Department. Certain confidential information is only available to those responsible but I want him to leave the Department satisfied that everything was done above board. If he wants to ask any questions of the people involved I will make those officials available to him.
