Written answers
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Consultancy Contracts
9:00 pm
Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 132: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department including payments from Ministerial allowances; the details of any consultants employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22811/12]
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). The following tables set out the details of external reports commissioned by the Department from February 2011 and the costs in each case. The tables have been prepared by reference to directly contracted engagements in respect of which professional fees were paid and Professional Services Withholding Tax (PSWT) was deducted, where appropriate. The Department is very conscious of the need the achieve value for money and is in full compliance with national and EU procurement regulations concerning tendering requirements.
The Department through Irish Aid (Ireland's official development assistance programme), occasionally commissions outside expertise where the effective management, evaluation and review of the programme necessitates the use of such skills.
Decisions on the need to commission outside expertise are subject to the establishment of appropriate business cases and an approvals process carried out by the Irish Aid Senior Management Group. National and international regulations are fully complied with in subsequent tendering processes.
During the course of their engagements these consultants/experts may prepare reports and other documentation.
The Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and, particularly in the case of Irish Aid, where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required.
In-depth analysis of issues by external experts has informed - and continues to inform - my Department's policies, allowing for more targeted use of resources and greater accountability in the allocation of budgets. I consider that these reports have been necessary, strategically beneficial and cost-effective.
External Reports commissioned under Vote 27 (International Cooperation)
| Year | Experts/Consultants | Matter Reported On | Cost (€) |
| 2011 | Kevin Moore | Support to the Governments of Zambia and South Africa to develop Special Economic Zones for the promotion of inward investment and employment | €13,581 |
| 2011 | Paul Sheane | Support to the Governments of Zambia and South Africa to develop Special Economic Zones for the promotion of inward investment and employment | €9,965 |
| 2011 | Stefanie Meredith | Review of Irish Aid Support for Product Development Partnerships in developing countries. | €10,100 |
| 2011 | Samia Saad | Review of Irish Aid Support for Product Development Partnerships in developing countries. | €9,198 |
| 2011 | Paud Murphy | Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community and youth work). | €9,064 |
| 2011 | 80:20 | Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community and youth work). | €9,870 |
| 2011 | Eilis Murray | Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community and youth work). | €6,068 |
| 2011 | ISOS | Development Education Reviews - to examine the current funding support and engagement in each of the priority areas identified in the Development Education strategy (primary, post primary, third level, adult, community and youth work). | €37,522 |
| 2011 | Bernard McLoughlin | Review of the Irish Aid Centre, Dublin | €6,143 |
| 2011 | Cathal Higgins | Preparation of a report on the programme of education sector budget support towards school infrastructural development in Karamoja region and skills development in the oil sector (Uganda) | €5,000 |
| 2011 | Nata Duvvury, NUI Galway | First draft of Ireland's National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 | €16,106 |
| 2011 | Rodney Rice | Scoping Irish Aid existing and potential for support for media development to improve governance and transparency in key African countries. | €12,492 |
| 2012 | Humanitarian Policy Ltd | Review of Security Policy & Practice among Irish Aid Humanitarian Partners | €33,930 |
| 2012 | Channel Research | Review of the Irish Aid Rapid Response Initiative | €2,033 |
| 2012 | Mike Williams | Review of Humanitarian Programme Plan for Irish Aid | €18,742 |
Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 133: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total amount spent since February 2011 on external marketing consultants, including payments from Ministerial allowances, including payments by all Ministers in his Department; the details of the consultants employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22829/12]
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My Department does not engage external consultants or professional service providers for marketing purposes.
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