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Public Procurement Regulations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2018

Tuesday, 27 November 2018

Questions (205)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

205. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which public procurement and reform thereto continues to be part of policy with particular reference to the need to ensure maximum economic benefit while maintaining good procurement practice and indigenous resourcing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49491/18]

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Written answers

Public Procurement is a key element of the Government’s Public Service Reform programme and the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) was established to lead on its implementation. 

The OGP commenced sourcing operations in 2014 and, together with four key sectors (Health, Local Government, Education and Defence), has responsibility for sourcing common goods and services on behalf of the public service, leveraging the State’s purchasing power. The OGP and its sector partners put in place Framework Agreements and contracts through which public sector bodies can buy these common goods and services, broken down into 16 categories of expenditure.

The reform of public procurement in Ireland is being carried out in a manner that recognises the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises to the Irish economy.  The aim is to drive fair, transparent and open competition in the marketplace but also to work with business to ensure that government procurement policies are business friendly. 

The OGP works with the SME industry representative bodies (including ISME, IBEC, SFA, Chambers Ireland, and CIF) as well as the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, InterTrade Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to promote the engagement of SMEs in public procurement.  Given the budgetary pressures, public procurement reform can support the dual objectives of meeting our fiscal targets and enhancing public services.

All public bodies are keenly aware of the importance of maximising the value for money achievable when procuring any commonly acquired goods or services.  The central procurement frameworks and contracts established by the OGP have been designed to optimise benefits to the public service through the strategic aggregation of its buying power. The OGP is continuing to refine the central procurement model in order to strengthen and improve it, in line with the Programme for Government commitments.

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