Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the circumstances in which a single contractor was paid an amount of €920,220 in respect of road transport services associated with the EU Presidency and reported on by the Comptroller and Auditor General, while a further sum of €45,166 was paid to the same contractor charged to press and information; the reason normal tendering guidelines were not complied with; if he will identify the contractor; the criteria in which a contractor with expertise in road transport services was adjudged to also have expertise in press and information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26827/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The sum of €920,220 was paid by the Department of Foreign Affairs to Murray's Chauffeur Drive Limited for transport services provided in connection with meetings and other events which took place in Ireland during the EU Presidency in 2004. A further sum of €45,166 was paid to the same company by the press section of the Department for transport services provided in connection with the attendance of the national and international media at Presidency related events.

The company in question was chosen through a negotiated tendering procedure which was launched in October 2003. A notice seeking expressions of interest was issued to six transport providers. Three proposals were received and two companies were shortlisted and invited to interview. The interview panel comprised representatives of the corporate services and protocol divisions of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Garda Síochána. After considering factors of cost, management skills, personnel, capacity, capability, experience and quality of service, the interview committee reached a unanimous decision on the award of the contract.

The decision to proceed by way of a negotiated tender was taken following the conclusion of negotiations on transport sponsorship for the Presidency, a new departure for the Department during this Presidency. Following long and complex negotiations, an offer of sponsorship for transport was confirmed and accepted in October 2003. Until this sponsorship was agreed, the Department's additional transport needs for the Presidency were not known. In view of the time constraints and the absolute need to have transport arrangements in place at the start of the Presidency, the Department felt it had no option but to proceed with a negotiated tender. Sponsorship of various aspects of the Presidency ultimately resulted in an overall saving of approximately €3.5 million. Of that amount, the value of transport sponsorship was an estimated €1.8 million.