Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020
240. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to instruct the Office of Government Procurement to update all procurement frameworks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14627/20]
View answer241. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to evaluate and manage the environmental, economic and social impacts of procurement strategies as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14628/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 together.
The Government has set out a number of commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to public procurement including evaluating and managing the environmental, economic and social impacts of procurement strategies within the state and tasking the Office of Government Procurement ("OGP") to update all procurement frameworks in line with green procurement practice over the next three years.
This is in line with work already underway by the OGP to promote wider policy considerations including environmental and social in public procurement. Strategic spending can play a key role in responding to societal, environmental and economic challenges. The range of policies is broad and can include disability access, training for young or disadvantaged people, SME access as well as green public procurement and environmental sustainability.
The OGP has been actively engaged and proactive on this issue. The OGP published Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement in October 2019. The circular highlights the potential for Departments to deliver wider social and environmental aims through public procurement including in relation to employment and training opportunities for disadvantaged groups, disability access, promoting social inclusion and social enterprises. The circular, a commitment under the Climate Action Plan, provided a clear signal of the direction of travel. Green public procurement (GPP) is about leveraging the State’s purchasing power to choose more environmentally friendly goods, services and works and help contribute to more sustainable consumption and production.
The Circular was the latest in a series of measures following publication of the Information Note on Incorporating Social Considerations into Public Procurement in December 2018. The Information Note assists policy makers and practitioners in understanding how public procurement can be used to facilitate the advancement of existing social policy objectives as well as the wider context and implications of including them in particular public procurement projects.
The OGP also established the cross Departmental Social Considerations Advisory Group in March 2019, bringing together officials from policy Departments with procurement practitioners to share best practice and to facilitate the process of incorporating social and environmental considerations into public procurement. In addition to the work of the Social Considerations Advisory Group, the OGP has also engaged in bilateral meetings with Government Departments and promotes strategic procurement at procurement related events aimed at public sector bodies as well as for suppliers and social enterprises across the country. The OGP works with Government Departments when it is putting new central arrangements in place to ensure that appropriate regard is taken for sustainability criteria.
These developments promote and facilitate the inclusion of social considerations in a structured manner and are aimed at helping policy makers and procurement practitioners understand how procurement can be used to support advancement of existing social policy objectives, the wider context and the implications of including them in procurement projects.
I, along with my colleagues in Government, will be considering how best to implement the commitments in the Programme for Government. Minister of State Smyth and I have met with the Chief Procurement Officer and will be having further discussions with the OGP in this regard, building on the progress to date.
