Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I note the guidelines on social considerations proposed in this Bill would complement and expand those contained in the 2019 circular. I was very actively engaged with the OGP at that time on the development of that circular because I also dealt with legislation on these issues in the period of the last Oireachtas.

I understand and appreciate the situation in respect of emergency provisions and so forth. That can certainly be accommodated. However, the guidelines are very important because a contracting authority in the Department of Education, for example, will not necessarily be au faitwith environmental goals. That is similarly the case if someone is procuring. It is really about strengthening the process because we cannot expect every procurement officer in the country to be an expert in every single area in the decisions they may make. I gave a very simple example, which is an important one for this House, of legislation driven by the Seanad in respect of Irish Sign Language, and the fact that when public buildings are designed now, because Irish Sign Language has that recognition, there is thinking about how an interpreter is planned for. It is a small thing, but including it in how we think about public buildings affects the kind of criteria that are looked for. It is a similar situation around the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as I mentioned, or indeed the issue of short-term disability. This is complementary and builds on that existing scope. It is something that is very useful and will give confidence to procurement officers in widening the value they seek to deliver from the contracting process.