Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

The allegation and insidious lobbying that everyone is doing it is not a justification. Many SMEs will need to compete for contracts outside the jurisdiction and across the EU to maintain their viability.

We cannot be seen to close ourselves off from the EU marketplace by adopting a protectionist stance because in 2009 alone, 80 companies have won €210 million in overseas public procurement opportunities with the support of Enterprise Ireland which has set up a new public procurement section.

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