Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

How ridiculous is that figure in the current financial climate? The requirements set down need to be proportionate to the risk and the products or services being delivered. I look forward to the Minister of State's clarification, but this is the information I have been given. I accept that specific criteria are required but SMEs have identified a number of problems in this area, such as requirements relating to previous experience in the public sector, turnover, insurance cover, and the need for a level playing field, thereby affording them a better chance than they may have had previously to secure contracts.

In addition, joint bidding should be made easier. Small businesses should be supported in doing this through the setting up of forums in which companies could collaborate and jointly bid for specific projects. For example, the enterprise boards organise events for industries. The process should be simplified. Complex requirements make it difficult for small companies that do not have the experience or manpower to spend time preparing tender documents. The time a small company must take to go through a tendering document and put in a bid is a major issue. It cost a company I know that employs nine or ten people almost €3,000 to tender for a project and the owner said it was a waste of time because the contract was won by a multinational in Dublin.

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