Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As soon as the Cabinet reshuffle is over and the replacement for the former Minister of State, former Deputy Brian Hayes, is made, will the Leader organise a debate with his replacement on public procurement procedures? We are told of the savings made through this new drive in procurement but I am afraid I am seeing the other side of it where jobs are being lost. Are real savings made? We need a full debate on this issue.

Prior to the establishment of Irish Water, I was led to believe that contracts for the installation of water meters would be set out in bundles of 2,000 connections whereby a small contractor would be able to tender for and win them. Unfortunately, when Irish Water was set up, the man with the green van, the Murphy Group, took up the whole lot. It is now subcontracting down the line to those who should have had these contracts in the first place. Accordingly, they are going out of business every day, meaning the installation of water meters is way behind. This is an unintended consequence of the new public procurement process.

The same is happening with Irish Rail whereby a contractor without a turnover in excess of €400,000 per annum cannot apply for Irish Rail tenders.

It is putting the small operator out of business and we need a full, wholesome debate on the procurement procedure as soon as possible.