Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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100. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the duration of the merchant agreement where payment by debit or credit card is accepted for services provided by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department to the public; when the term ends; if the merchant agreement is awarded by way of tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15741/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Patents Office, the Companies Registration Office and the Registrar of Friendly Societies in my Department accept payment by debit or credit card for the payment of fees in respect of patents, trademarks and designs in the case of the Patent Office, and in respect of payment of fees in the case of the Companies Registration Office and the Registrar of Friendly Societies.

Following a competitive process, on eTenders and in the Official Journal of the European Union, the Local Government Computer Services Board (now the Local Government Management Agency) awarded a Framework Agreement, for the supply of credit/debit card acquiring services, to Elavon. This Framework Agreement is open for use by all non-commercial contracting authorities in the public sector.

The Framework Agreement commenced on 7 April 2011. The Agreement, which was due to expire on 6 April 2014, has been extended for a further year until 6 April 2015. I understand that a procurement competition will be advertised later this year to ensure new arrangements are in place by 6 April 2015.

The Framework Agreements used by the Patents Office, Companies Registration Office and the Registrar of Friendly Societies are pursuant to this Framework Agreement.