Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Taoiseach his views on whether the agencies and bodies under the responsibility of his Department comply 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 in each of the years 2000 to 2007 and to date in 2008; if he has expressed concern to an agency or body that it might be acting inappropriately during that period; if so, the agency or body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29265/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am confident that all agencies and bodies under my Department's responsibility comply fully with the Department of Finance guidelines for goods and services.

The Internal Audit report on the National Forum on Europe, dated December 2006, concluded that the appropriate Department of Finance procurement procedures are being employed for the tendering of services. The Forum Secretariat is currently undertaking a review of all contracts with suppliers to ensure that compliance with the guidelines is on-going.

The CSO operates under its own internal procurement policy. This internal procurement policy was developed to reflect all obligations which CSO purchasers of goods and services must comply with, in accordance with all national and EU guidelines.

The CSO does not have a full-time procurement unit. However, the CSO Procurement Officer, and Corporate Support staff, conduct regular information sessions to ensure that CSO staff are aware of the relevant rules and regulations, and 'Value for money' requirements, with regard to the spending of public monies. The internal Corporate Support Unit also maintains an updated Procurement Information Homepage to reflect any changes in the limits or obligations.

In addition, an internal audit was carried out on the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) earlier this year. The report concluded, inter alia, that "all appropriate procedures for financial reporting and procurement have been followed with two exceptions". The two exceptions related to relatively minor breaches of public procurement procedures relating to the form of procurement adopted and these were remedied.