Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2022
153. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the efforts his Department has taken to recover the contract between his Department, a private company (details supplied) and the HSE; if no such steps have been taken, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3683/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ICT team in my Department were asked to assist in the further investigation into the existence of all records relating to this matter, as a matter of urgency. While you are aware that the ransomware cyber-attack had a temporary impact on the availability of some of the Department’s ICT platforms, the information that was made public stating records had been “lost” was inaccurate and was sent to an external stakeholder in error. This investigation has now resulted in additional records becoming available.
Due to the extreme urgency brought about by the unforeseen circumstances pertaining to the global pandemic, the widespread dissemination of vaccine mis and disinformation, and the speed with which Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme was rolled out, it was necessary to procure this service with Kinzen outside of normal tendering processes alongside a number of non-competitive contracts that were required to be implemented as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
EU Directives provide legitimate reasons for awarding contracts non-competitively, such as extreme urgency brought about by unforeseeable events.
Details of all contracts awarded by the Department that exceed a value of €25,000 excluding VAT, and which were not subject to a competitive tendering process are subject to further scrutiny under the Annual Return filed by the Department to the Comptroller and Auditor General in respect of Department of Finance Circular 40/2002. The returns under this Circular for 2021 are required to be submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General by 31st March 2022.
The work my Department and the HSE did with Kinzen added real value to Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, and as you are aware, Ireland has one of the highest rates of vaccination uptake in the world. This is thanks to the extraordinary communications and public engagement campaign that was spearheaded by this Department and by the HSE and informed by the important function Kinzen provided.
