Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In response to the parliamentary question I mentioned earlier, the Minister said that "when a contract is awarded, the public authority must .... notify NERA and provide it with a copy of the form". He went on to say that "a dedicated email address" has been established in this regard and that "35 notifications have been provided to NERA to date [this year, presumably]". The number of public contracts is much greater than 35. I am addressing this to the officials from the Department, which issued a circular to contracting authorities last November or December. If it is the case that just 35 notifications have been issued by public bodies to NERA, it is clear that public bodies are not even notifying NERA. The Minister said they are required to make such notifications. The number of public contracts signed in the last period is a multiple of 35. It is clear that public bodies are not even notifying NERA. I suspect that they do not appear to be notifying NERA of public contracts. The Minister said in his reply that they are obliged to do so. I am just giving that information as well. There are many lacunae and problems in this area. That is all I am saying.