Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 November 2005
266 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if his internal auditors are satisfied with the procurement process used in the purchase of a consultancy service (details supplied); if the process used conforms with the Department of Finance guidelines. [33413/05]
View answer267 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if value for money has been achieved by his Department in its purchase of a consultancy service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33422/05]
View answer268 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if any of his officials have attended as VIP guests at a conference organised by a company (details supplied); the locations, dates and costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33431/05]
View answer269 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his knowledge of a consultancy service (details supplied); the number of officials of his Department who are members of this particular programme; the basis on which the decision was taken to subscribe at this level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33440/05]
View answer270 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of competing companies that were considered in his Department’s assessment before a company (details supplied) was granted a programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33449/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 266 to 270, inclusive, together.
The company in question is a worldwide supplier of information and communications technology, ICT, industry research to suppliers and users of ICT. It has a number of services based around its continuous research programme. In addition to the provision of standard research papers and provision of access to the authors and analysts, it offers an executive programme aimed at senior ICT managers.
The executive programme provides additional research reports, which are not otherwise available, on deploying technology for business growth. It also provides access to additional on-line resources. The programme is supported by dedicated local and worldwide staff who actively liaise and follow up on specific issues. They also facilitate a number of local events for their membership, comprising public and private sector chief information officers, at which best practice and experiences are shared. Members are entitled to VIP status at company events. Essentially, this means they have preferential access to the industry analysts at the events and they receive tickets as part of their subscription.
Although there have been a number of companies offering research and advisory services, the company in question has a worldwide reputation as the leading independent adviser in the industry. It offers a particular combination of research covering current and future technology in general, suppliers and their strategies and also reports on how ICT has been deployed in various industry sectors, including the public sector, worldwide. It supplements this research with a programme of direct support to senior ICT management which provides strong quality assurance for overall ICT strategy as well as advice on specific projects and technologies. It also includes making analysts available to senior business management as required. In addition to the industry monitoring and quality assurance aspect of the service, my Department considers that the programme offers strong support for personal development at a senior level. My Department had previously participated in other research programmes but, due to resource constraints, these have been discontinued. It also avails of ICT-related advice from various other sources but not on a membership basis.
When the specific programme was designed in late 2000, my Department provided a business case to the Government contracts committee seeking sanction to join. The advice received was that the executive programme was a membership or subscription service and not subject to the normal contract procurement regulations. The membership service has not been the subject of an internal audit review. The director of my Department's IS division is a member of the programme along with one of the principal officers within the division, who is nominated as a back-up.
Apart from the facilitation of peer interaction locally, the company organises a particular set of worldwide conferences twice yearly in Europe, one in Cannes in winter and one in Barcelona in spring. It also organises similar events in the United States and Asia. These worldwide events provide a mix of technology scenarios, a discussion of the external influences and constraints on a particular aspect of the industry and a forecast of how that sector will develop over the next few years, and commentary on specific suppliers and product lines. Typically, there would be up to 50 analysts presenting about 150 sessions over four to five days. My Department considers that, while it is a very intensive seminar, it provides an unparalleled opportunity for technical refresh, that is, updating of knowledge, personal development by providing a view across the whole industry and peer discussion.
Since the executive programme commenced in 2001, the director of the IS division has attended one conference as part of the executive programme in Barcelona in spring 2004, at a cost of under €500. In addition, a principal officer in the IS division availed of the executive programme membership to attend the conference in Cannes in winter 2002, for a cost of under €1,300. The cost of attendance is included in the membership, so the costs incurred are for the relevant economy flights, hotel cost and standard subsistence.
My Department has a budget of more than €12.2 billion and is responsible for more than 970,000 transactions each week, which rises in a full year to almost 60 million transactions, covering a wide range of schemes. Therefore, my Department is highly dependent on information and communications technology to support schemes, produce payments and deliver a proactive service to customers. It is highly desirable that ICT management engages in professional development and keeps informed of industry best practice. I am satisfied that the services availed of represent value for money.
