Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

There is a limit, if memory serves me correctly, of €150,000, above which it is subject to public procurement where one has to advertise in the EU Journal. For smaller amounts there would be a degree of discretion, but one would still have to advertise. In that respect there would be openness and one would be answerable to the agency in regard to lower amounts. That is the system in place and it works reasonably well.

In this case particularly there will be a need to take on consultants. I visited MediaLab Europe to which Senators might go and see what is being done. It is an incredibly specialised area. From that point of view I have no doubt the digital hub would be exactly the same on the other side of the road. As a former Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, I am aware that there were a great many consultants and a great deal of change in regard to PPS numbers and the Grow and Reach projects. I used to be asked questions in the Dáil as to the reasons consultancy services were so massive. Since the expertise required did not exist within the public service consultants had to be brought in to devise the standard card, etc. There are occasions when this is necessary.