Vol. 489 No. 2
91 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether contracts or extension of contracts, which might fall within the criteria for public advertisement and tender as required by EU or national legislation, were awarded by her Department or bodies or agencies under the aegis of her Department without advertisement for public tender in the past seven years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7753/98]
No such contracts or extensions of contracts were awarded by my Department or its predecessor, the Department of Enterprise and Employment. As regards the agencies under the aegis of my Department, this would be a day to day matter for those bodies and one in which I have no function.
95 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources whether contracts or extension of contracts, which might fall within the criteria for public advertisement and tender as required by EU or national legislation, were awarded by his Department or bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department without advertisement for public tender in the past seven years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7754/98]
Each year my Department awards a large number of contracts relating to the marine, forestry, mining and hydrocarbons sectors. It is standard practice for contracts to be awarded in full accordance with the relevant national and EU requirements. However, in order to fully address the Deputy's concerns, I am undertaking a review of contracts and extensions of contracts, awarded over the past seven years. Given the pressure of other urgent business, the Deputy will appreciate that this may take some time to complete but I will communicate further with the Deputy as soon as possible.
With regard to bodies and agencies operating under the aegis of my Department, the Deputy will be aware that commercial and non-commercial State bodies are, of course, expected to comply with the broad principles of the Government contracts procedures. While this Department ensures, as far as practicable, that such bodies do comply with procedures, the awarding of contracts would normally be a day to day matter for which the board of the relevant State body would be directly responsible.
96 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether contracts or extension of contracts, which might fall within the criteria for public advertisement and tender as required by EU or national legislation, were awarded by his Department or bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department without advertisement for public tender in the past seven years ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7755/98]
This Department has fulfilled its advertising obligations under EU public procurement directives and the secondary legislation transposing them into Irish law in the period referred to.
