Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The key message in the report is that the areas most prone to errors were rural development, the environment, fisheries and health. While I am not directly involved in agriculture, I have some knowledge of the sector as I represent a mixed constituency. I often receive complaints, as I am sure do other representatives of rural Ireland, about the minutiae of the new mapping system. Given that the punishment for breaches is quite severe and penalties can have a lasting impact on the budgeting of the individual directly affected, to what extent can applicants be forewarned?

On fisheries, an issue which was previously the subject of an animated discussion at this committee in the context of penalties, many people within and outside the country believe the greatest damage to the fishing industry has not been inflicted by Ireland but by other member states and non-member states. To what extent is it possible for the European Court of Auditors, in the same way as it is possible to identify the culprits in this jurisdiction, to identify the culprits off our shores?

On health, procurement is an issue in which we all have an interest. An issue of concern for me which has been referred to by other speakers is the difficulty being experienced by small companies in meeting the criteria laid down for public procurement. For example, a company wishing to supply a particular product, perhaps artificial limbs or a particular medicine etc., much in the same way as supermarkets use loss leaders, may be competing with a broker who can source its product from numerous areas, often at way below the market price, which is to the detriment of small companies. To what extent is it possible in monitoring procurement to ensure we get the best value for money, in particular in the health service, while ensuring that in all instances every effort is made to ensure products are sourced in a fair and equitable way which is not to the disadvantage of those operating and providing employment here? There is a huge level of brokerage in supplying markets all over the world. This is happening to a far greater extent than in the past.