Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will repeat myself. I am discussing value for money for taxpayers. I was attempting, admittedly in an obtuse manner, to explain my case. The Minister of State has an indication of the issue I am discussing. My main concern is to achieve value for money, particularly in the times in which we live. I have no doubt that Government agencies view value for money as a priority. However, I wish the perception to be dispelled that they may be more inclined to allow a process to continue because they do not want to have to face the law. I am curious to know the overall approach taken in respect of tendering. In the hypothetical case I have outlined, the second bidder would, in normal circumstances, take the job if the first tenderer was unable to do so. It would be unusual, however, for the job to go to a third bidder. Are State agencies obliged to accept the third bid in such circumstances?Therefore, the question arises of whether there is an obligation on State agencies to accept the third tender without having to explain that they are not casting any aspersion on a given company or its capacity to do the job, but they can question the cost the company has put on the job because it is far in excess of the original allocation given by the agencies concerned.