Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Savings may be possible in procurement and substantial savings would be made if the Government tackled the cartels operating in the likes of the concrete industry, etc. That would bring about real savings in contracts. The procurement policy will cost jobs in local areas, and this is not down to the fact that people will be making decisions based on whether they know somebody. Local managers in the public sector are achieving the best prices that they can and there is intense local competition with regard to provision of services. The circular does not state that local managers can make different procurement decisions. Will the Minister of State provide the House with the document that considered the impact on local jobs, as well as the rationale and justification used in that respect?

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