Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I accept that the data to which we refer is difficult to collect because corruption is illicit and illegal and, thus, does not facilitate data collection. I also accept the Minister's points on ethics legislation, but I want to focus on the public procurement process. The new rules define conflicts of interest in a way that requires member states to prevent, detect and redress such conflicts. Detection measures include the development of red flag indicators and the rules refer to remedial measures also. Grounds for exclusion from procurement have been strengthened to include companies that have unduly influenced the decision making process. All of these elements are new and welcome. Some €8.5 billion is spent through the public procurement process, so I would like to know the specific changes that will be introduced.

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