Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the criteria being used to award contracts in respect of maintenance and safety work for the ESB. [5098/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The procurement of maintenance and safety works by ESB is an operational matter for the Board and management of ESB and are not matters in which I have a direct role or statutory function.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is an obligation on State companies to seek tenders for maintenance and other contracts outside of Ireland. [5099/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Under EU Directives on public procurement public works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be advertised on the Official Journal of the EU and awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. For works contracts the threshold is €5 million; for supplies and service contracts awarded by most public bodies the threshold is €200,000. The threshold for supplies and service contracts of entities operating in utility sectors (water, energy, transport and postal) is €400,000.

For contracts below these thresholds, the general requirement is that they be advertised on the national public procurement website www.etenders.gov.ie or, depending on value, awarded on the basis of a competitive process of direct invitation to an adequate number of suitable suppliers.