Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. It is unfortunate that, by virtue of the number of public procurement contracts awarded to non-Irish companies based in other countries, we are exporting our own business. I am well aware of the rules that apply in respect of public procurement at both EU and national level. The Taoiseach should request that the Minister of State at the Department of Finance carry out a complete audit of the rules and procedures relating to public procurement and report back to him within three months.

I raised the matter of public procurement with the OECD a couple of weeks ago. It is clear that there are massive savings to be made. It is also clear that problems subsequently arise in the context of keeping down such savings. I recently met an inspector at a meat factory who informed me that he cannot obtain a box of biros but that if his computer breaks down, someone will be sent from Dublin to fix it regardless of the cost involved.

The Taoiseach and I are aware that cartels have been operating in the area of public procurement for a long period. Some county managers appointed procurement officers within their local authorities and a number of them have seen to it that substantial savings - be these in respect of electricity costs, payments for machinery or whatever - were made within a short time. There would be a real value in the Taoiseach informing the Minister of State at the Department of Finance that an audit should be carried out. Every Department should have, through its own public procurement network, the capacity to make savings for the taxpayer while still obtaining real value for money. If the Taoiseach does anything in this regard, it should be to set down the standard and issue an instruction to the Minister of State that he should provide, within three months, a report relating to a complete audit of the public procurement rules - EU and national - that apply in this country.

We all want Irish companies to do well. Such companies are quite prepared to step up to the mark if they get the opportunity to do so. I have met the owners of many of the small firms, particularly those operating in the area of printing, etc., who indicated that they cannot even avail of the opportunity to tender as a result of the complexities of the system and the costs involved. It appears that, year after year, contracts are awarded to the same companies. That may well be happening on a strictly competitive basis, which is fine. However, there is real potential for small and larger businesses to avail of the massive opportunities that exist in the context of job creation, the provision of services and obtaining value for money. The Taoiseach would do the country a useful service if he were to demand a complete audit and an overhaul of the way public procurement contracts are awarded.

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