Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. In other words, that one would not open up markets in countries with which one does not have a reciprocal arrangement. This would relate more to third countries bidding for EU procurement contracts, from which countries without free trade agreements with Europe are excluded. Some countries would like to have that type of quid pro quo and others would rather not impose these types of constraints. It is a much debated issue.

I will have to come back to the committee on whether the threshold for advertising of a contract is included. I do not think there are changes at that level of detail.