Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The point made by Senator Higgins is valid, to be fair. There is an idea that whoever is to tender for public contracts must show compliance but such compliance should be demonstrated across a number of areas and not just this. It is something that could be put into regulations without it being mandated here. In public procurement rules there is a requirement to comply with all sorts of provisions now, including the general data protection regulation, for example. There must be evidence of compliance in that regard. I have complete sympathy with the aspiration and I am at one with it but I am not sure it is necessary in the Bill.