Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the fact that the State awarded Ernst and Young almost €7 million in public contracts in 2011 and 2012, despite the fact the company has an investigation pending from CARB regarding its role as Anglo Irish Bank’s auditors before and during the banking crisis. [14078/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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My Department have advised me that they have not awarded any contracts to Ernst and Young since 2011. They have also advised me that in awarding public contracts they observe the European Communities (Award of Public Authorities’ Contracts) Regulations 2006. Regulation 53(1) of these regulations specify that public authorities in considering whether or not to award a public contract, they have to exclude from consideration any person, who to the knowledge of the authority has been convicted of an offence involving any of the following: participation in a prescribed criminal organisation, corruption, fraud or money laundering.

I am not in a position to comment on the specific case referred to by the Deputy, however I would like to point out that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have advised my Department that in general an economic operator may not be excluded from the Public Procurement Process unless they have been sanctioned by a relevant body.