Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 February 2005
141 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take to implement the recommendation made in the recent report of a person (details supplied) that his Department should review and consolidate its internal advice on all aspects of procurement; if he intends to take any other action arising from the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3882/05]
View answerMy Department fully accepts the Quigley report recommendation that it should review and consolidate its internal advice on all aspects of procurement and this recommendation will be fully implemented over the next few weeks. Some relevant initiatives have already been identified and others are in the process of being developed.
My Department is a large and complex organisation dealing with some 3,700 suppliers of a wide range of goods and services, and a relatively large number of officers are involved in procurement. Revised procedures are being put in place to strengthen monitoring and control of procurement and intensive briefing and refresher training is being arranged for all staff engaged in procurement. Additional resources are also being allocated to the Department's internal audit unit, and to its organisation unit which co-ordinates advice and monitoring in relation to the Department's procurement activities.
I am confident that these arrangements, which will be implemented urgently, will enable my Department to achieve the improvement and consolidation of its procurement arrangements recommended by the Quigley report.
