Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

The company carrying out the independent investigation is a well-known management consultancy auditor — PricewaterhouseCoopers — and I expect it will bring forward the report within weeks. In this instance we are talking about the provision of audio technical services in Dublin Castle which is one of our foremost high quality conference centres and is used intensively by both Government and outside agencies. In this situation the services of these audio technicians might be required on up to ten occasions per week and therefore the situation would not require the issuing of a formal tender on every occasion. It has been the case that these services are generally provided on an hourly rate. In this case a number of firms are involved and the overall spend is spread over these. The conditions are reviewed on a regular basis and we deem the prices that we pay to this firm and the others to be reasonable and above question.

On the matter of the named individual, that official is not currently involved in the procurement of services from the company concerned. Steps are being taken to ensure that the supply of all goods and services will be subject to a formal, fair and transparent competitive tendering process.

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