Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are a number of things which are already in the Action Plan for Jobs, such as the new director of public procurement reviewing the contract letters issued in terms of public procurement. A fresh look is being taken at whether smaller businesses, SMEs, are getting a fair crack. Equally, the Deputy will see that in the water contract, there was an unbundling of the contract to try to give more contractors an opportunity. Social clauses are being examined to see if there is the possibility to include requirements in respect of recruitment off the live register. A number of areas are trying to open up public procurement to give more opportunities to individuals and to SMEs.

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