Public Procurement Contracts

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 February 2022

Thursday, 24 February 2022

Questions (333)

Dara Calleary

Question:

333. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice the actions she has taken in relation to reports that a significant supplier of product to An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service made a tax settlement with the Revenue Commissioners; if all suppliers of services to her Department and to agencies under her remit require an up-to-date tax clearance certificate, possess an up-to-date-tax clearance certificate and had an up-to-date-tax clearance certificate at all times of their contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10546/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

It has been confirmed to me that under procurement procedures, the taxable status of the successful tenderer is confirmed at contract award stage. I can also confirm that my Department requires the successful tenderer to supply its Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number to facilitate online verification of their tax status before they can be set up as a supplier on the Department’s financial management system. Once set up, all payments to suppliers providing goods or services to my Department or its agencies, processed through the Department's Financial Shared Services Centre, are subject to ongoing electronic tax clearance verification against Revenue’s on-line system. No payments greater than €10,000 are made to suppliers without a valid tax clearance certificate. In the event that a supplier reaches the €10,000 annual threshold and has not the requisite tax clearance from Revenue, payment is withheld until such verification is electronically updated by Revenue. The issue of tax settlements is directly between the Revenue Commissioners and individual suppliers.