Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 January 2014
40. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of consultants or consultancy firms employed by his Department during each of the past five years; the purpose and duration of each of these consultancies or consultancy contracts; the names of the consultants or firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1874/14]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Vote 27: International Cooperation. Consultants are engaged only where specialised knowledge and skills are not available within the Department and, especially in the case of Ireland’s official overseas aid programme, known as Irish Aid, where independent appraisal, audit, monitoring and evaluation of programmes and projects is required. Decisions on the need to commission outside expertise are subject to the establishment of appropriate business cases and an approvals process overseen by senior management of the Department’s Development Cooperation Division. Expenditure on consultancy services is constantly monitored to ensure that it does not exceed the level required for the proper management of the aid programme.
Details of the consultants engaged by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade during the period in question are set out in the tables. It was not possible in the time available to review each individual case in order to determine its duration.
