Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for Finance the company allocated responsibility for the management of the [i]www.etenders.gov.ie[/i] website; the location at which this company is based; if it is based outside of Ireland; the reason it was felt that no companies located here provide the same service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3952/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The company awarded the current contract for the website, www.etenders.gov.ie is Millstream Associates Ltd., based in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The contract was openly advertised in 2003; 10 companies bid for the contract, seven with an office in Ireland (including Northern Ireland). The contract covered provision/development of the website as well as end-user and technical support.

The contract was awarded on the basis of an open, transparent and non-discriminatory process as required under public procurement law. The winner was selected on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender submitted, offering best value for money having regard to criteria such as cost and technical merit.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Finance the percentage of contracts tendered for on the [i]www.etenders.gov.ie[/i] website which have been awarded to companies based outside of Ireland since the introduction of said website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3953/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Full and precise data on country of origin of companies winning public contracts since the establishment of the etenders website in 2001 is not available as this type of information is not published for all contracts. However, an analysis of the available data indicates the following:

83.5% of high-value contracts (i.e., those advertised in the European Journal) were awarded to Irish companies;

91.8% of lower-value contracts (those advertised on the etenders website only) were awarded to Irish companies.

The key principles of Public Procurement Regulations (both EU and national) are based on openness, transparency and objectivity while achieving value for money. Essential principles to be observed include non-discrimination, equal treatment, freedom to provide service and freedom of establishment. The public procurement Directives impose legal obligations on public bodies with regard to advertising and the use of objective tendering procedures. Any such discrimination could lead to sanctions by the EU. My Department's guide to the competitive process Public Procurement Guidelines, Competitive Process

(http://www.etenders.gov.ie/guides/Guides