Written answers

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

Department of Foreign Affairs

Departmental Procurement

9:00 pm

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 354: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any printing contracts for his Department were awarded or given to any company from outside the State in each of the past three years, and if so the company appointed and their location; the amount of the contract; if tendering took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40251/10]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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No significant printing contracts have been awarded by my Department to operators from outside the State in the past three years. My Department's missions abroad have occasional small print requirements and it is more economically advantageous to source such requirements by getting competitive quotes from local providers. In the case of smaller print jobs at Headquarters my Department has made use of drawdown contracts put in place by the National Procurement Service (formerly the Government Supplies Agency) and it is also intended to make use of the panel of print service providers which has recently been established by the National Procurement Service.

My Department's largest print requirements are for passport application forms and passport booklets. Both of these contracts are currently held by Irish companies with all technical and production facilities located in Ireland. In accordance with Irish law (which gives effect to Ireland's international obligations in these matters), these contracts are tendered periodically and are open to competition from suppliers in all European Union and European Economic Area (EEA) countries as well as suppliers from countries that are parties to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).

I appreciate that this is a competitive challenge to Irish companies. However, under the same arrangements, there is an equivalent entitlement for Irish companies to compete for a vast range of public sector contracts in all EU and EEA countries as well as in all GPA countries. Access to such opportunities is vital to our exporting economy and to our prospects for economic growth. Details on how to access opportunities in international public sector markets can be found on my Department's website and on the Enterprise Ireland website. The Deputy can be assured that both Enterprise Ireland and my Department, including at embassies abroad, will be happy to provide any assistance they can to Irish companies in pursuing public procurement opportunities overseas.

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