Batt O'Keeffe
Ceist:430 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence his views on the contract for providing a jet service with a company that is not licensed to carry passengers. [14205/96]
Written Answers. - Jet Service Contract.
As part of the requirement to ensure an efficient and effective Presidency of the EU a tender competition was held by the Department of Defence in accordance with EU competition regulations for the provision of an air taxi service capable of carrying up to eight people to all major cities within the European Union. The competition was advertised in the European Journal in February 1996 with a closing date for the receipt of tenders of 11 April 1996. In accordance with EU requirements, the award criteria were set out as being the most economically advantageous offer in terms of price, quality of service offered and ability to meet the specification. Eighteen sets of tender documents were issued to interested parties and seven tenders were received. The tenders were fully evaluated on financial and technical grounds by the Department of Defence. This evaluation involved consultation with the Irish Aviation Authority and the Air Corps. Following the evaluation, the contract was awarded on the basis of the award criteria to which I have already referred.
It was not a condition of the tender specification that the provider of the service should be the owner or operator of the aircraft used, hence the need for that company to hold a licence does not arise. I can assure the House that the operators and aircraft being used are licensed to carry passengers.