Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 9 December 2021

Public Accounts Committee

2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 37 - Social Protection
Chapter 9 - Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 10 - Management of Social Welfare Appeals
Chapter 11 - Controls Over the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

9:30 am

Mr. John McKeon:

In answer to the last part of the question, the tender, as we are proposing it, is for a three-year contract with an extension of up to two years. It is three years or potentially five years. At that point it would have to be tendered again. It will not be in any way an indefinite duration. There is a difference, as the Deputy is aware, between contract law and employment law. There are more protections in employment law. That would explain the difference. Those issues do not arise in contract law.