Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy raises a specific case. It is the first time that I have heard of it. I will not comment on a specific case. To do so would not be fair, to be quite honest about it, because I do not have the details. I have taken a note of what the Deputy has said and I will review the matter with the relevant officials when I return to my Department.

I wish to reiterate that the role of the Office of Government Procurement is in the setting out of the contract tendering process. It is a matter for the tendering authority - I do not know to which tendering authority the Deputy is referring - to ensure that all conditions laid down under Irish law, as well as any EU provisions, are complied with. It is a matter for whatever agency of the State is the tendering authority in this case. As I said in my initial response, there are mechanisms available to everybody, including the Workplace Relations Commission, but I do not know the details of the specific case the Deputy has raised and will not comment on it today.

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