Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 4

Written Answers. - State Laboratory.

Richard Bruton

Question:

80 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the reason he has allowed tenders to be sought for the task of moving the laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development from Abbotstown in view of the appointment of an independent financial assessment on the appropriateness of committing taxpayers' money to the Stadium Ireland project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15593/01]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Cullen)

Tenders have not been sought for the moving of the State Laboratory and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Laboratories from Abbotstown.

On 12 April, in accordance with EU procurement procedures and prior to the Government decision of 1 May 2001, to commission an independent overview of the sports campus at Abbotstown, the Commissioners of Public Works placed an advertisement in the EU Journal, seeking expressions of interest from contractors for the construction of new laboratories at Backweston, Celbridge, County Kildare. Similar advertisements followed in the national newspapers, in accordance with standard practice.

The receipt of expressions of interest will not create any binding or contractual obligations on the state nor will the process cut across, in any way, the independent overview commissioned by the Government.