Written answers

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

EU Presidency

9:00 pm

Photo of Seán FlemingSeán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 75: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the measures he will take to ensure that a cost efficient process is put in place in respect of Ireland's EU Presidency and in addition measures to prevent a reoccurrence of problems highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General in relation to procurement by the Office of Public Works during Ireland's last Presidency of the EU. [11182/12]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Preparations for Ireland's EU Presidency are underway in all Departments and significant progress has been made in setting out Presidency priorities for the first six months of 2013. The Presidency is an important opportunity for Ireland to rebuild its positive image as a credible, effective, and trustworthy international player. At a practical level, the Government has taken a number of decisions with a view to putting in place an efficient and cost-effective Presidency.

The need for financial discipline means that expenditure for the Irish Presidency will be tightly controlled.

As an important cost-containment measure, the Government has decided that Dublin Castle and other State-owned properties in the Dublin area will be the default venues for all Presidency-related events in Ireland and the OPW have been fully engaged with this Department and the Department of the Taoiseach and in identifying and pre-planning the facility requirements for events during the EU Presidency.

In addition, work is underway between my Department and other bodies, including the Department of the Taoiseach, the Office of Public Works, the National Procurement Service and the Chief's States Solicitors Office on a centralised procurement scheme for all goods and services that will be required for the running of the Presidency. By taking a more collective approach, I expect that we will be able to maximise the potential economies of scale as well as reducing some of the administrative overload incurred through individual tendering for similar goods and services.

A Prior Information Notice (PIN) for the possible procurement of a number of requirements for the EU Presidency was published by my Department on 9 March 2012 on the eTenders website. The services/supplies included on this PIN include accommodation, catering, hospitality and event management, chauffeur-drive and bus transport services, interpretation and translation services, and an accreditation and badging service for delegates and media. A PIN does not necessarily mean a commitment to procuring these items. However, it underlines the transparent approach being taken to procurement, gives suppliers more time to prepare for possible tenders and will result in more cost-effective procurement.

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