Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Can the Leader find time for a debate on public procurement? When the EU directive on public procurement came through it seemed sensible that we should accept it wholeheartedly, but the effect it is having on a large number of smaller Irish businesses is huge. Can we take a balance into account when we automatically accept EU directives? There is a need to do something in this regard. I met a group of business people here the other day whose businesses are likely to go just because of one decision. It may well be that the State and taxpayers benefit from having an EU directive on public procurement which says that we must buy the cheapest or best no matter where. However, if such a directive affects so many jobs in so many areas, we should re-examine the matter.

One of the proposals that is being made on the contents of beverages concerns some sort of limit on the sugar content of soft drinks. This concerns measures to control obesity. Two days ago, the New York Supreme Court found that a ban that Mayor Bloomberg had put into operation to ban the sale of jumbo soft drinks, was illegal. Consequently, the city was unable to enforce it. That decision may mean that the indoor smoking ban in New York is also illegal. I am mentioning this matter because we have been so competent and capable here in taking steps to ban smoking, and I would hate to find that such measures cannot be enforced in future.

I wish to add a few words in memory of two people who died in recent days. One was Mr. Enda Marren who was on the national executive of Fine Gael for many years. He was never a Member of this House but he certainly played a large part in this country's public affairs and the benefits accruing therefrom.