Written answers
Tuesday, 9 April 2024
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Horse Racing Industry
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1002. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 153 and 154 of 6 March 2024, to name the contractors/employees named as part of the management team in the tender submitted by the Irish Horse Board in April 2022 for sport horse-marketing services; the qualifications, QQI Framework Level of said qualification and name of institution awarding such qualification, of each contractor/employee identified as delivering said contract if successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14811/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The contract for the provision of Marketing Services to the sport horse sector was awarded to the Irish Horse Board following a competitive tendering process carried out by my Department in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
The Request for Tender required that "the proposed team must include at least one member or contractor with a qualification in Marketing, Business Studies, or Business Management or other relevant disciplines at Diploma/ Certificate/Degree level".
I am satisfied that the Irish Horse Board met this requirement in their tender submission.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1003. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 6 March 2024, the reason an official from his Department is listed on a website (details supplied) as the FOI contact for the Irish Horse Board; what measures to comply with freedom of information (FOI) have been taken by the Irish Horse Board; if he has trust in the organisation's ability to comply with FOI and further GDPR regulations; if he has sought a report on the measures taken by the Irish Horse Board since January 2023 to comply with FOI and GDPR legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14812/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed that the contact details on the FOI website of the Irish Horse Board are outdated. Accordingly, officials in my Department have instructed the named organisation to arrange to have the website amended to reflect the correct contact details.
The Irish Horse Board is a Co-operative Society and compliance with legislation pertaining to both the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are a matter for the Irish Horse Board.
I have not requested a report on this matter.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1004. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, the number of panel members involved in reviewing the equine marketing tender; to provide the names of any public/civil servant and names of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; the names and grade of any other civil servants present or attending the evaluation meeting(s); any memberships held by members, or memberships of equestrian bodies held by family associates of the equine marketing tender evaluation panel; the qualifications and institute where such qualifications were awarded of each member of the panel; any other "necessary skills" he considers each member of the panel to have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14813/24]
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1005. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, to provide the names/confirm the officials and names of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; any memberships held by members, memberships of equestrian bodies held by family associates of the equine marketing tender evaluation panel; the qualifications and institutes where such qualifications were awarded to each member of the panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14814/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1004 and 1005 together.
Following a complaint that was lodged with the EU Commission in March 2018, and following communications between my Department and the Commission, it was agreed that a public procurement process would take place in 2022 in respect of certain services including the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector.
Procurement processes for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector was carried out by my Department in accordance with National and EU Procurement Guidelines.
The evaluation process comprised of 2 stages as follows:
1) a compliance check where applicants can pass or fail, and
2) evaluation of the submissions of those applicants that pass stage 1.
The compliance check (stage 1) consisted of three Department officials at Higher Executive Officer, Agricultural Inspector and acting Assistant Principal levels. This stage involved assessing if the required documentation and other compliances as outlined in the RFT has been met/submitted with the submission, for example, receipt before closing date, eESPD document received, etc. The personnel carrying out the compliance checks had no other role to play in the subsequent evaluation, review or scoring of the submissions.
The adjudication panel (stage 2) in respect of the tender competition for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector in Ireland consisted of Chair at Principal Officer level and two outside panellists. The independent evaluation panel were selected for the individual skills and professional expertise they could bring to the process.
I am satisfied that all members of the evaluation team were impartial and independent in the context of the procurement procedure and had the required experience and knowledge to carry out the evaluation.
All members of the evaluation team properly completed confidentiality/conflict of interest declaration forms.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1006. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, the reasons for awarding a contract given a separating score of 1.1% between two bidders; if he will provide a full objective assessment of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of all tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14815/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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PQ 1045 refers
Following a complaint that was lodged with the EU Commission in March 2018, it was agreed between my Department and the Commission that a public procurement process would take place in 2022 in respect of certain services including the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector.
A Public Procurement process for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector was accordingly carried out by my Department, in accordance with National and EU Procurement Guidelines.
The Request for Tenders specified a number of criteria against which tenders meeting the eligibility criteria were assessed.
This assessment was carried out in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines by an independent assessment panel.
Each eligible tender was required to meet a minimum (pass) mark and, following assessment, the highest overall scoring tender was deemed successful, in accordance with the Guidelines. Accordingly, the contract was awarded to the highest scoring tender, submitted by the Irish Horse Board.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1007. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, if he will publish all tenders submitted in the public interest; if he will publish elements not deemed commercially sensitive; if he will seek consent from bidders to publish their respective tenders in full; in failing to publish any of tenders received, if he will publish the table of contents of each bid received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14816/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The contract for the provision of Marketing Services to the sport horse sector (as referred to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024) was awarded to the Irish Horse Board following a competitive tendering process carried out by my Department in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
In accordance with clause 2.16 'Freedom of Information', my officials have consulted with the two Tenderers about the confidentiality or commercial sensitivity of their submissions and the release of this information as requested.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1008. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review a series of procurement processes undertaken by Government (details supplied); if he is satisfied that correct procedures have been adhered to throughout the processes; what verifications he has that such adherence is independently verified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14817/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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PQ 1047 refers
Following a complaint that was lodged with the European Commission in March 2018, it was agreed between my Department and the Commission that a public procurement process would take place in 2022 in respect of certain services namely, studbooks, national breeding and marketing.
Following the tendering process the successful tenderers were as follows:
- National Breeding Services – Horse Sport Ireland,
- Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector – Irish Horse Board, and
- Provision of Studbook services – Horse Sport Ireland (3 lots).
I am satisfied that the procurement processes for each of the tenders listed were carried out by my Department in accordance with National and EU Procurement Guidelines, including with regard to the management of potential conflict of interests. I am also satisfied that the tender evaluation teams were suitably qualified to carry out their work.
The recruitment of staff is a matter for the Board and the CEO of the organisation named.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1009. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 6 March 2024, if, given that no reasons were provided, he will now provide the reasons for awarding an approximate €4 million marketing contract to an organisation with no marketing staff, no website, no social media presence and no history of marketing experience at the time of the award; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14818/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The contract for the provision of Marketing Services to the sport horse sector was awarded to the Irish Horse Board following a competitive tendering process carried out by my Department in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
The Request for Tender (RFT) provided details of the award criteria and each tender was evaluated based on the information supplied. The contract was awarded on the basis of the tender meeting the specified criteria in the RFT and being deemed the most economically advantageous tender.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1010. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 6 March 2024, if, given the overall value of the tender in questions and other tenders (details supplied), the tender processes in question was notified to the Official Journal of the European Union; if the tender notification required notification to the Official Journal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14819/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In January 2022, the threshold beyond which any tender for goods/services must be published in the Official Journal of the EU was revised to €140,000 (ex VAT).
Accordingly, requests for tenders in respect of National Equine Breeding Services and the Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector in Ireland were published in the Official Journal of the EU, as follows:
RFT 206629 - National Equine Breeding Services
A Contract Notice (OJEU Notice number 2022/S 025-062734) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in respect of this tender competition as the estimated value was in excess of the threshold applicable at the time of publication.
RFT 207932 - Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector in Ireland
A Contract Notice (OJEU Notice number 2022/S 035-089112) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in respect of this tender competition as the estimated value was in excess of the threshold applicable at the time of publication.
Finally, no Contract Notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Union in respect of the Studbooks Tender competition, as the estimated value was below the threshold applicable at the time of publication.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1011. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 6 March 2024, if he will consider appointing his full cohort of three directors to the Board of Directors of the Irish Horse Board, including directors with international marketing expertise and governance expertise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14820/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that, as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I may appoint up to three Directors to the Board of the named organisation. Currently one Ministerial nominee has been appointed and I have no plans to make any further appointments to the Board.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1012. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to explain how a company with a stated objective within its constitution/rules to promote one studbooks above all others won a tender to promote all Department-approved studbooks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14821/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The contract for the provision of Marketing Services to the sport horse sector was awarded to the Irish Horse Board following a competitive tendering process carried out by my Department in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
The Constitution of the Irish Horse Board was last consolidated in 2011. It lists 22 objectives for the organisation. Several of these objectives are both relevant to the wider Sport Horse industry and the provision of Marketing Services, including, inter alia:
- "to increase the prosperity of those engaged in the horse industry in Ireland by co-operative action in all aspects of the industry including promotion and marketing",
- "to identify markets and help define breeding goals which best serve these markets; to promote the Irish Horse in these markets".
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1013. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 168 of 6 March 2024, the terms of such exit agreement to a named member of staff within a named organisation (details supplied); the costs to his Department of such agreement; if the named individual was named as part the management team/project team of a series of tenders submitted to his Department during a period under which the person was exempt from competing against their former employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14822/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding to the named organisation for the purpose of supporting the sport horse sector.
Operational matters are determined by the Board and the CEO of the named organisation. I am advised that, during 2021 and up to January 2022, a HR matter involving the named individual was under active management by the then Board of the named organisation. I am further advised that the matter was brought to a resolution by the named organisation in January 2022 within the budgetary provision made available by my Department.
I can confirm that the named individual was not referred to in the tender submission/s by the second named organisation.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1014. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 6 March 2024, the number of engagements or interactions undertaken by his Department with industry stakeholders, including studbooks either face-to-face, event or by video platform during 2023 regarding the sport horse sector; if he will provide details of the various officials involved in such interactions; their grade; each individual organisation that was interacted with, in tabular form; if similar information can be provided for each organisation delivering equine services under contract to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14824/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is included in the attached file.
Date | Name of Organisation/Stakeholder | Engagement or interaction Face to face/event/video | Grade of Dept Official |
---|---|---|---|
17/01/2023 | ETS Applicants | Webex | Acting Assistant Principal, Agricultural Inspector. |
31/01/2023 | Irish Cob Breeders | Face to Face | Agricultural Inspector |
7/02/2023 | WSI | Face to Face | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector |
8/02/2023 | Horse Sport Ireland | Face to Face | Principal Officer, Assistant Principal Officer X 2, Higher Executive Officer X 2, Agricultural Inspector, Contractor |
21/03/2023 | WSI | Webex | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector |
22/03/2023 | Leisure Horse Ireland | Webex | Principal Officer, Assistant Principal Officer X 2, Higher Executive Officer X 3, Agricultural Inspector, Contractor |
04/04/2023 | Connemara Pony Breeders Society | Webex | Principal Officer, Assistant Principal Officer X 2, Higher Executive Officer X 3, Agricultural Inspector, Contractor |
15/06/2023 | ETS Applicants | Webex | Assistant Principal Officer, Agricultural Inspector, Higher Executive Officer. |
17/07/2023 | Kerry Bog Pony Co-op Society | Webex | Assistant Principal Officer, Higher Executive Officer X 2, Executive Officer, Contractor X 2 |
17/07/2023 | Warmblood – Studbook Development Ireland Ltd | Webex | Assistant Principal Officer, Higher Executive Officer X 2, Executive Officer, Contractor X 2 |
19/07/2023 | Connemara Pony Breeders Society | Webex | Assistant Principal Officer, Higher Executive Officer X 2, Contractor |
19/07/2023 | Irish Harness Racing Association | Webex | Assistant Principal Officer, Higher Executive Officer X 2, Contractor |
19/07/2023 | Leisure Horse Ireland | Webex | Assistant Principal Officer, Higher Executive Officer X 2, Contractor |
05/09/2023 | Horse Sport Ireland | Webex | Assistant Principal Officer, Higher Executive Officer X 2, Contractor X 2 |
20/09/2023 | Horse Sport Ireland | Webex | Principal Officer, Assistant Principal Officer, Agriculture Inspector. |
23/10/2023 | Horse Sport Ireland | Event | Principal officer |
6/11/2023 | Horse Sport Ireland | Event | Assistant Principal officer |
9/11/2023 | Horse Sport Ireland | Event | Assistant Principal Officer |
15/11/2023 | ETS Applicants | Webex | Assistant Principal Officer, Agricultural Inspector, Higher Executive Officer. |
5/12/2023 | Horse Sport Ireland | Face to face | Principal Officer, Assistant Principal officer |
8/12/23 | IHRA | Face to face | Assistant Principal Officer, Agricultural Inspector |
Organisations delivering services under contract interactions – 2023
Date | Name of Organisation/Stakeholder | Engagement or interaction Face to face/event/video | Grade of Dept Official |
---|---|---|---|
6/1/23 | HSI | Webex | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector, Acting Assistant Principal |
9/1/23 | IHB | Webex | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector, Acting Assistant Principal |
13/1/23 | IHB | Face to Face | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector |
23/1/23 | IHB | Webex | Assistant Secretary General, Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector, Acting Assistant Principal |
22/2/23 | HSI and breed societies | Face to Face | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector |
24/4/23 | IHB | Face to Face | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector |
29/5/23 | HSI | Face to Face | Assistant Principal, Higher Executive Officer, Executive Officer, Clerical Officer x 2 |
19/7/23 | HSI | Meeting | Minister Mc Conalogue, Senior Inspector, Assistant Principal, Higher Executive Officer |
26/7/23 | IHB | Meeting | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector, Assistant Principal. |
27/7/23 | HSI | Meeting | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector, Assistant Principal. |
18/9/23 | HSI and IHB | Meeting | Assistant Secretary General, Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector, Assistant Principal, Higher Executive Officer. |
28/9/23 | HSI | Webex | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector, Assistant Principal |
28/9/23 | IHB | Webex | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector, Assistant Principal |
2/10/23 | HSI and breed societies. | Face to Face | Assistant Principal |
8/11/23 | IHB | Webex | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector and Higher Executive Officer |
14/11/23 | HSI and IHB | Face to Face | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector, Assistant Principal and Higher Executive Officer |
5/12/23 | IHB | Face to Face | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector, Assistant Principal |
7/12/23 | HSI | Face to Face | Senior Inspector, Agricultural Inspector |
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