Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Most procurement is done through eTenders. I have read the eTenders document. Does the delegation think eTenders documents are simple if one is able to pre-qualify for them? I found them very confusing.

Do we need to work on that issue? I am considering it from an overall perspective.

With regard to centralisation and aggregation, what does Mr. O'Brien see as the opposite to them and how can he justify the opposite of centralisation in reducing costs? The entire purpose of centralisation was to reduce costs, but there is also a social cost.

What does Mr. O'Brien mean by a level playing field? He referred to opportunities to quote. How can we adjust policy to ensure all SMEs are allowed to quote? In regard to the figures he presented, we have been harping on for a long time about how we can identify SMEs. He is dead right. To exclude the 95% of companies that employ fewer than ten staff from being able to get a slice of the €8.5 billion is wrong. How can he make that message stronger? It is not being picked up by the national media, the Government or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Last week we discussed a booklet for entrepreneurs, most of whom are starting companies employing up to ten staff. These companies will be generating two out of every three new jobs in their first five years. How can we get this message across?

I am not referring to the court case which also was not highlighted in the media. What, in Mr. O'Brien's opinion, is the reason for the OPW's decision to bring the case to the Supreme Court?