Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I know from my previous background as an architect that in recessionary times, contractors sometimes undercut other tenders or bids when a project goes out to tender. They are hoping to buy work, in effect, and subsequently claim extras to recoup the margin and bring the project into profit. I understand that under contract law, the client - the building section of the Department in this instance - is not obliged to take the lowest tender or the lowest price. There is a mechanism for evaluating the capacity of a contractor to deliver the product to the quality, within the timeframe and at the price outlined in the bid. There are safeguards in place. It is a complex area. The construction industry has faced a horrendous time over the past couple of years, as the Deputy will be well aware.

See this speech in context