Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015
813. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on apparent discrepancies in a report (details supplied) regarding the postcode procurement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30281/15]
View answer814. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the European Commission investigation into the postcode procurement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30282/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 813 and 814 together.
As I stated in reply to Questions Nos 258, 259, 266 and 267 of 24 June 2015, my Department received correspondence from the European Commission in August, 2012 regarding certain aspects of the procurement process for the National Postcodes System. The case was fully examined by the Commission which informed the Department in November, 2013 that the matter had been closed on the basis that the Commission could not establish any breach of EU procurement law that would justify the opening of an infringement procedure. The Irish authorities, however, were requested to take measures in relation to the clarity of language to be used in relation to bids by consortia in future procurements.
In reply to a question from the European Parliament on the procurement process for the postcodes project, the then European Commissioner for the Internal Market stated on 14 May 2014 as follows:
"The Commission received a complaint regarding the tendering procedure in question. It conducted an investigation into the matter.
After having received the requested clarifications from the Irish authorities, the Commission closed the file. Based on the available information, the Commission departments could not establish any violation of EU public procurement law that would justify the opening of an infringement procedure."
In April, 2015 in further correspondence, the EU Commission asked for additional information on the measures that have been adopted by the Irish authorities. My Department, having consulted with the Office of Government Procurement, replied to this request by way of a letter to the European Commission on 10 June.
