Vol. 549 No. 1
206 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the survey being conducted to determine attitudes to the Garda Síochána is being conducted by an organisation within the State; if the survey documents were posted within the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6005/02]
Tenders for the carrying out of a Garda public attitudes survey were sought last year by way of a notice in the Official Journal of the European Communities. Tenders were subsequently received from six companies and initially evaluated with reference to the completeness of the tender documentation and the stated ability of the tenderer to meet the requirements of the invitation to tender. The following award criteria were then applied: conformity to specification, sound methodology, price, delivery within acceptable timeframe and added value. The successful tender – having regard to the award criteria – was submitted by a company outside the State. This was also the lowest cost tender submitted. Sanction was therefore sought and received from the Department of Finance for the carrying out of the survey by this company.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the survey is being overseen by the Garda Research Unit and that the survey documents were posted from outside the State.
