Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a company (details supplied) is a contractor for Bord Gáis; if it is in line for the contract to install water meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21943/12]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Question 23: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a company (details supplied) is a contractor for Bord Gais; and if it is in line for the contract to install water meters here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21946/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 23 together.

Bord Gáis Éireann (BGÉ) appoints contractors in compliance with the appropriate competitive processes under EU and national rules as set out in the Department of Finance Guidelines on Public Procurement. The appointment of contractors is a matter for the Board and management of Bord Gáis and I have no function in the matter. My Department is advised by BGÉ that the company referred to by the Deputies is not contracted directly with BGÉ. BGÉ advises that the contractors for installation, maintenance and testing of company domestic boilers for Bord Gáis Energy, is part of the Group in question.

I have been advised by my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, that the tender process for the installation of water meters has not yet commenced. This process will be rolled out in the coming months in line with Public Procurement Guidelines. This will be an entirely new and separate procurement process. Any existing contractual arrangements in place by BGÉ have no relevance whatsoever to the process of tendering for water meters.