Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. Holding a roadshow in Leinster House - perhaps in the AV room - would be worthwhile so as to brief Members of both Houses.

I have written to the Minister of State about an issue that has come to my attention, that of small, independent book publishers that are effectively excluded from library tendering. Library tenders are now being handled by large, wholesale providers. They can receive significant discounts from publishing houses whereas small, independent book publishers cannot. Due to the way in which public procurement is handled currently, they are unable to access the library network. Included among them are local society groups that publish local histories and bring a local flavour to the library service, and Irish companies that publish on behalf of well-known authors and find that, due to the procurement process, they cannot access the library network unless they provide unsustainable discounts.

Many sectors are affected. The Minister of State might get a chance at some stage to organise a clinic in the AV room. All Deputies have cases of people who are struggling with procurement. Importantly, SMEs are still struggling and are not getting the opportunities that are available. Such a clinic might assist us all in matching them with opportunities.

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