Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
408. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the companies selected to be placed on the panel for external workplace investigation services since the first contracting out of such investigations; the number of investigations undertaken by each company; and the cost of each investigation. [33169/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Government Procurement (OGP), on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform conducted an open competitive tender process for the establishment of a Framework Agreement for the provision of External Workplace Investigation Services (EWIS). The purpose of this Framework Agreement was to establish a panel of external professional investigators to conduct formal workplace investigation services. This is available to central government departments and other public bodies. For central government bodies these services are required in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) "Dignity at Work" Policy, An Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy for the Irish Civil Service. The Framework was established in March 2015.
The Framework Members are as follows:
- Acrux Consulting Limited;
- Collier Broderick Management Consultants and;
- Raise A Concern Limited.
The OGP facilitates mini-competitions under this Framework for both central government and other public bodies. It acts in an advisory role in this respect but the individual Contracting Authorities are accountable and responsible for the mini-competitions and any subsequent contracts. To date, the OGP has facilitated mini-competitions under the Framework Agreement for External Workplace Investigation Services on behalf of central government departments and other public bodies’ requests as outlined:
|
Year |
Completed mini-competitions |
|
2015 |
13 |
|
2016 |
23 |
|
2017 |
35 |
|
2018 (to date) |
24 |
The number of workplace investigations undertaken by each company and the cost of each investigation is a matter for each relevant Contracting Authority.
