Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
497. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the way that interested applicants could be expected to have the opportunity to apply for the position of chair of the three-year review of the 2018 abortion legislation given the tender was not publicly issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12423/22]
View answer498. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the reason that the tender for a chair of the three-year review of the abortion legislation was not published on eTenders as he and his Departmental colleague claimed it would be on 8 December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12424/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 497 and 498 together.
The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 was signed into law on 20 December 2018 and commenced on 1 January 2019. Under section 7 of the Act, a review of the operation of the Act must be initiated within three years of the commencement of the Act, that is, before January 2022.
As I stated during my appearance before the Joint Committee on Health on 8 December, it was my intention to appoint an independent Chair to lead the second phase of the review of the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018.
As the costs involved in contracting an independent Chair to conduct the review were estimated as exceeding €25,000, the advice I received was that the Department was obliged under procurement rules to tender for the appointment.
Given the expertise required for the position, a small number of candidates, identified as having suitable experience, were contacted and invited to tender for the role of independent Chair. This is in line with European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016.
I look forward to receiving the Chair’s final report, incorporating her conclusions and any recommendations, in due course.
