John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of queries. I will follow up on some points made by Senator Alice-Mary Higgins on procurement. She is correct regarding SICAP tendering. It was approved by the Attorney General and I am told it was restricted to non-profit companies. The Minister stated there are lessons she may take from the process. I would like to know what she thinks those lessons are. The process did achieve what it set out to do. It was an open tendering process but who could tender was restricted. The Minister is stating nobody should be afraid of the tendering process. Nobody is afraid of the process, but the question is on what grounds the tendering process is based.

If it is based on payment by results and open to for-profit companies then that is something of which to be fearful. These private companies are more concerned about their shareholders and meeting their demands than the individuals they are supposed to be looking after. There is certainly something to be fearful of regarding the tendering process and how it is going to be put in place. I am not convinced we are bound to use that process by EU guidelines. Will the Minister circulate the advice she has been given to the committee? The information I have completely contradicts the Minister's. I am not going to get into an argument with the Minister on this and we may have to agree to disagree-----