Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend Connect, Fórsa and SIPTU on the very strong vision for local government and public services they set out today in the More Power To You campaign.

My key objective this morning is to move a new Bill. I would like to move an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 15 be taken before No. 1 today. No. 15 is a Bill I am proposing on the preparation and award of contracts by public authorities and utility undertakings. This Bill will help put quality and joined-up thinking deeper into the procurement process in Ireland. In recent months and years, we have seen a number of controversies that have highlighted the problems with current procurement practices and culture. However, this Bill is not simply about those problems. It is also about the immense positive potential our procurement has. When we spend public money, we have the power to get great public benefit and to ensure that any moneys spent give us not only the best economic return but also social, environmental and other benefits. My Bill will address the current practice of lowest cost bidding. Lowest cost bidding is one option that any procurement official will face.My Bill will include price-quality ratio in the designing of contracts so that their administration on the basis of both price and quality will be the default option, and that while lowest cost will still be an option, it will require sign-off from a senior official and the publication of a rationale.

The national development plan, NDP, through which the Government is spending billions of euro, involves once in a generation, sometimes once in a lifetime, projects. I am setting a target of 50% quality on any NDPs. Exceptions can be made, but those exceptions must be justified. The Bill will empower procurement officials to deliver more for the public from how its money is spent.

The Bill also empowers the Minister to set out guidelines which bring together our commitments on climate change, the rights of persons with a disability and all of the established policies and existing obligations, and encourages procurement officials to think about that bigger picture when they are designing a procurement contract.

I believe this would be a positive and constructive contribution that would make a tangible difference. Public procurement affects the most intimate parts of people's lives here in Ireland as well as shaping the way that we design our future.

I am hopeful that all parties in this House will be supportive of the Bill. I hope to bring it forward to Second Stage on Wednesday next and I will be asking for the Senators' support at that point. I believe this is a chance to not only address the problems but access the potential in public spending.

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I hope that the Leader will be able to accommodate the taking of No. 15.