Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 269: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he intends to take to promote a green purchasing policy on foot of the publication of the EU handbook on environmental public procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4041/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The EU handbook on environmental public procurement was published in October 2004 by the European Commission and has the aim of explaining to public purchasers how to integrate environmental considerations into their purchasing practices for goods and services.

The Department of Finance has responsibility for public procurement policy. The website www.etenders.gov.ie, maintained by the national public procurement policy unit of the Department of Finance, contains comprehensive guidance on all aspects of public procurement including the EU handbook and other guidance and clarification for public bodies on how environmental considerations may be taken into account and promoted in public procurement. The Department of Finance has indicated that the e-tenders website is to be the principal means of disseminating procurement guidance.

My Department actively promotes green procurement in a number of ways by adopting green procurement specifications for goods and services purchased for use by the Department itself and reporting on this in our annual report and on our website; encouraging and facilitating the Government Supplies Agency to include a range of environmentally preferable products in their supply contracts for Government Departments and hosting green trade fairs for procurement officers from across the public service. The second such fair is scheduled for the end of this month, to coincide with the publication of a green procurement specifications booklet by my Department. The booklet will outline basic environmental criteria for a number of office products and services by participating in a tender for the supply of green electricity as part of a contract being organised by the Department of Finance.

In communications with local authorities on procurement, my Department provides advice and information regarding the inclusion of environmental criteria in the award of contracts. Furthermore, the national construction and demolition waste council, the national waste prevention committee and the market development group will be considering issues relating to the advancement of green procurement.