Written answers

Wednesday, 4 October 2006

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Public Procurement Policy

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael NoonanMichael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his Department has plans to adopt a green procurement policy to encourage the growth of hybrid vehicles, renewable heating technology, recycled goods and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30963/06]

Photo of Dick RocheDick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Public Procurement Policy Unit of the Department of Finance, which has responsibility for public procurement policy, maintains the website www.etenders.gov.ie. The website is a centralised portal containing comprehensive information on all aspects of public procurement including the EU Handbook on Environmental Public Procurement which was published in October 2004 by the European Commission and has the aim of explaining to public purchasers how to integrate environmental considerations into their purchasing practices for goods and services. My Department works with the National Public Procurement Policy Unit to provide up to date information on green procurement to users of the website.

A separate action plan on green public procurement, envisaged as part of the implementation of the EU environmental technologies action plan, is currently being prepared by my Department. Green procurement is also promoted by my Department through the inclusion of environmental criteria in the specifications for goods and services purchased for use by the Department itself. In this regard my Department has recently ordered 25 new vehicles capable of running on biofuel products for use by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

My Department will be supporting and participating in a one day workshop on green public procurement to be held in Dublin on 8 November 2006. The workshop is being organised by the European Commission, in co-operation with ICLEI (Sustainable Local Government) and is aimed at purchasers and policy makers from the public and private sector. Further information on this event can be found on the website: http://www.iclei-europe.org/gppworkshops.

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