Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Only 7% the public procurement contracts awarded goes overseas while 93% goes to Irish-based suppliers. The Deputy referred to an overemphasis on price. We use the most economically advantageous tender model. I will detail the emphasis given to price and non-price factors in some examples of competitions in 2015. In the 22 professional service contracts awarded in 2015, the ratio of price to non-price factors was 30:70. In the nine awards in 2015 for clothing competitions, the ratio was 50:50. In ICT research and advisory services in the national framework, the ratio was 40:60. In the enterprise application support services framework, the ratio was 30:70. It is not just a question of overemphasis on price. We examine other factors.

The lotting allocated under Circular 10/14 has allowed for lots to be awarded by region, for example. Lots can be broken down - for example, cleaning can be divided into clinical and non-clinical cleaning. There are areas in which we are constantly trying to reform and improve how the Government procures to ensure SMEs can have as good a chance as anybody else in getting tenders.

In terms of our engagement with the Small Firms Association and other interested bodies, I chair two groups that are focused on trying to help small and medium enterprises in the area of Government procurement.

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