Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Finance if his internal auditors are satisfied with the procurement process used in the purchase of a consultancy service, details supplied; if the process used conforms with the Department of Finance guidelines. [33410/05]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Finance if value for money has been achieved by his Department in its purchase of a consultancy service, details supplied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33419/05]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Finance if any of his officials have attended as VIP guests at a conference organised by a company, details supplied; the locations, dates and costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33428/05]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Finance his knowledge of a consultancy service, details supplied; the number of officials of his Department who are members of this particular programme; the basis on which the decision was taken to subscribe at this level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33437/05]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of competing companies that were considered in his Department's assessment before a company, details supplied, was granted a programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33446/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 227, inclusive, together.

My Department is aware of the programme in question. No official of my Department is a member of this programme nor have any officials of my Department attended the conference in question as VIP guests. Consequently, the other questions raised by the Deputy do not arise.

Because of its central advisory role and research remit, my Department subscribed to selected aspects of an Internet-based information service from the company in question in recent years. This service provided research information and papers on technology trends, market directions and predictions on future developments of technology and associated systems developments. This service cost was in the order of €5,000 to €8,000 per annum. My Department no longer subscribes to this service as much of the information required is now available — albeit in a more diffuse form — from alternative sources on the Internet.