Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Mar 1992

Vol. 416 No. 6

Written Answers. - Importation of Paper-Clips.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

171 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if, having regard to the programme of awareness of buying Irish, promoted by the Government and An Bord Tráchtála, his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Stationery Office authorised a change in purchasing policy whereby paper-clips for the use of Deputies/Senators and staff of Leinster House, which had previously been supplied by an Irish manufacturer, are now supplied with paper-clips made in China (details supplied), and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

214 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a change in purchasing policy has resulted in the supply of paper-clips for use of the Deputies/Senators and staff of Leinster House, has been shifted from an Irish manufacturer to a non-European manufacturer (details supplied); if he will outline, (1) when this change took place and, (2) the number of paper-clips ordered from the new manufacturer; if he will instruct that paper-clips be purchased again from the Irish manufacturer; if he will further outline the number of jobs that this would protect, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. N. Treacy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 214 together.

Office requisites such as paper-clips are purchased in bulk by the Government Supplies Agency, stored in its warehouse and issued to Departments and offices as required. Each purchase involves competitive tendering in accordance with Government contract procedures. Regarding the paper-clips in question, all of the suppliers on the agency's lists of tenderers for paper-clips were invited to quote. An order was subsequently placed with an Irish firm who sourced their supplies through the UK. This firm also distributes "Tara paperclips" which import from the UK.

As far as I am aware there is no Irish manufacturer of paper-clips. The last known Irish manufacturer of paper-clips has ceased trading for some time.