Vol. 489 No. 2
98 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise 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. [7756/98]
State bodies are contracting authorities directly responsible for compliance with applicable legislation in relation to procurement and I have no function in relation to such compliance. With one exception, contracts awarded by the Department complied fully with applicable procurement legislation.
Under the essential air services programme, following the collapse of the company which won the original tender for the Donegal service, tenderers in the previous competition for essential air services generally who met the essential requirements for Donegal were invited to tender without a new advertisement. The need for uninterrupted service necessitated this interim action and a new competition will be held for the contract beginning in January 1999.
