The Deputy is referring to the project undertaken by Prospectus Strategy Consultants in relation to the audit of structures and functions in the health system. The commissioning of this work was undertaken in line with EU procurement procedures for an open competition. As the Deputy is aware, the public procurement process is a rigorous one with detailed procedures and guidelines. The Department advertised its request for tenders in the Official Journal of the European Union, on the Government's e-tender website, in the national newspapers and on the Department of Health and Children's website.
The request for tenders set out the skills and capacities required by the successful tenderer as a detailed knowledge of modern public management requirements with particular regard to the specific needs of the health sector; an established track record in large scale projects involving organisational structure and management, business process re-engineering and change management; and the capacity to deliver on a project of this scale and nature within the planned timeframe of six months from the signing of the contract.