Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have listened many times to my colleague, Senator Higgins, speak about procurement and the need to have a more holistic approach to it. I suggest the Minister puts this into regulations as opposed to having it prescriptively included in the legislation. The overarching point about quality procurement, and it is something that needs to be voiced as often as possible, is that wanting the cheapest procurement option has often proved to be the wrong approach for many areas of society. There absolutely needs to be a much more holistic approach to procurement across the whole public sphere. It is a mammoth discussion for a different Minister. I would not like to see us divide on this particular issue on this important legislation because of the unified approach so far and the Government's willingness to engage. I urge the Minister to take up Senator Higgins's offer to engage between now and Report Stage.