Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is confident that all agencies and bodies under his Department's responsibility comply fully with the Department of Finance procurement guidelines for goods and services; if he has sought assurances from the agencies and bodies that this is the case since 2000 to date in 2008; if he has expressed concern to an agency or body that it might be acting inappropriately since 2000 to date in 2008; if so, the agency or body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29170/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are three Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission which operate under the aegis of my Department: the Advisory Board for Irish Aid; the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee and the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission).

The Development Education Advisory Committee and the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee are advisory in nature and are serviced by staff of my Department. They have no specific budgets and therefore no procurement issues arise.

The Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission) was established in 1957 and finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States of America. Notwithstanding certain specific statutory responsibilities of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Commission enjoys 'autonomy of management and administration', by reason of Section 2(5) of the Educational Exchange (Ireland and the United States of America), Act, 1991. This means that the Commission itself is responsible for ensuring compliance with relevant procurement obligations.

The Advisory Board for Irish Aid is an advisory body which was established to provide general oversight and advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State for Overseas Development on the strategic direction of the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. The €1 million annual budget of ABIA is subject to the normal EU and national procurement rules for goods and services and is audited independently once a year. Audited financial statements are published annually as part of the Board's Annual Report. The Board is served by a secretariat of four civil servants, who ensure that proper procedures are followed. I am confident that the Advisory Board has properly adhered to all financial and procurement procedures since its establishment.

The Department is fully committed to the principles of fairness, transparency and accountability in public procurement as well as to securing value for money for the taxpayer. Competitive tendering is standard procedure for all purchases, and is carried out in strict compliance with all applicable national and EU procurement rules. The Department has established an internal Procurement Unit to oversee compliance with these national and EU rules and to promote best practice and the achievement of value for money.