Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 3 December 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

Matters relating to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Discussion

Mr. David O'Brien:

I am saying there is not a central database that records poor past performance. A number of steps need to be taken to verify the evidence necessary to exclude a party. Under the Constitution, people have a right to earn a living and there must be a process. It is no different from any other disciplinary procedure, some of which we discussed earlier. There is a right to a response and a party must make a final decision. Quite often under contracts, people may call something out and a dispute might arise as to whether that judgment or call is correct. It will go through a determination and dispute resolution if necessary and if the contractor or consultant in some cases refuses to accept that determination.