Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the details of the tendering and procuring process followed in the appointment of consultants (details supplied) to his Department in the matter of the proposed Corrib gas project. [8066/05]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The consultant for the Corrib pipeline evaluation was appointed in January 2002 following a limited invitation to tender in which three bids were received. The names invited were taken from the Institute of Petroleum's consultants list and the Pipeline Industry Guild. The appointee offered the most economically advantageous tender on the basis of cost, time and availability.

The consultant petroleum engineer was appointed in November 2000 following the advertising of the work in October 2000, and the receipt and evaluation of the 14 tenders received. The recommended candidate was approved by the Government contracts committee on 31 October 2000. On expiry of this contract the work was advertised in the EU's Official Journal on 23 February 2002 and the successful candidate was approved by the Government contracts committee on 22 May 2002. The relevant contract provided for one year in the first instance followed by the possibility of renewal for a minimum of 50 days in each year for a maximum of three further years.