Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding tendering for the provision of medical goods for Irish jails; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6119/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Irish Prison Service, IPS, currently purchases medical goods, including medical gloves, on the basis of the individual requirements of practising medical professionals within the service. However, the IPS also utilises a national contract put in place by the Government Supplies Agency, following a national tendering competition, to purchase some types of medical gloves.

The IPS is currently rationalising the procedures for the purchase of pharmacy — medicines — and ancillary medical goods, such as dressings and medical gloves. It has successfully completed two pilot projects and now proposes to run a national tender process following the same pilot models for the supply of such medical goods. It is expected that the tender process will commence within the next few months.