EU Directives

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2020

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Ceisteanna (118)

Ged Nash

Ceist:

118. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the recent proposals for an EU directive (details supplied) which includes the call for an action plan to promote collective bargaining; his plans to update the national public procurement policy framework to help promote collective bargaining given that countries with high collective bargaining coverage tend to display a lower share of low-wage workers, higher minimum wages relative to the median wage, lower wage inequality and higher wages than others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36584/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Public Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. 

The EU Procurement Directives require tenderers to be compliant with relevant employment law in order to participate in a public procurement process. The Directives provide that non-compliance with the relevant obligations may lead to exclusion of a tenderer from the procedure for the awarding of a public contract. The obligations on suppliers in relation to compliance with employment law are also incorporated into the suite of tender documentation for goods and services developed by the Office of Government Procurement in conjunction with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.

The Office of Government Procurement will monitor the development of this proposal, which is in its early stages, and its impact on public procurement in the State should it progress through the EU legislative framework.