I propose to take Questions Nos. 463, 464 and 466 together.
IT Procurement in my Department is conducted in accordance with "Public Procurement Guidelines 2004" issued by the National Public Procurement Policy Unit of the Department of Finance which is available on that Department's website or at www.etenders.gov.ie.
The guidelines require procurement processes to be open, objective, transparent, and cost effective. The giving of preference to any class of provider would quite possibly be open to challenge. Consequently, my Department does not, unless it is directly relevant to the ability to provide a specific service or equipment, track the nationality or size of enterprise to whom contracts are awarded.