Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Quigley Report has been implemented in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16632/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the main response by the Government to the Quigley Report, I refer to the reply by the Taoiseach to Questions Nos. 1 to 4 of 6 December 2005. In addition the Department of Finance has issued, in September 2005, revised and consolidated procurement guidelines for the engagement of consultants.

In so far as recommendations specifically affecting my Department are concerned, procurement guidelines and practices in the Department have been reviewed and a set of consolidated guidelines has been circulated to all staff. Revised procedures have been put in place to strengthen monitoring and control of procurement and a briefing session has been held for staff engaged in procurement both in Dublin and regional offices. Reference material on procurement has been published on to the Departments intranet and is readily available to all staff. Additional resources have also been allocated to the Departments Internal Audit Unit and to its Organisation Unit which coordinates advice and monitoring in relation to the Department's procurement activities.

I am confident that these arrangements will enable my Department to achieve the improvement and consolidation of its procurement arrangements recommended by the Quigley Report.