Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 1047: To ask the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the campaign to have Fairtrade products widely available and used; his views on the objectives of this campaign; and if he will endeavour to have such Fairtrade approved products used in his Department. [10568/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the Fairtrade campaign and its laudable objective of having Fairtrade products widely available and used. Procurement by my Department, including the Defence Forces, must be carried out in accordance with Government contracts procedures and the European Union directives, under which the award of contracts is primarily based on the quality of the product and cost.

It is not open to me, therefore, to have Fairtrade approved products directly purchased by my Department. However, such products would be considered in the normal way if tendered in a procurement competition.