Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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42. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a contract in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39368/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that the person named is currently listed on a panel of service providers for the collection and delivery of reactors and other animals from farms in the area concerned. Service providers are placed on this panel on the basis of an open public procurement competition which provided for the provision of the service in all regions of the country. Under the tender process, it was open to a contractor from outside a specific regional area to tender to provide the service in that area. A contract for the transport of a particular consignment of animals is awarded to the most cost effective contractor available from the panel to the Regional Veterinary Office.  Priority is given to the most economical and appropriate means of transport for the number of animals involved at the particular time as determined by the Regional Veterinary Office. The person has been awarded haulage contracts in the area on this basis reflecting the category of transportation he can provide.

I might add that my Department cannot guarantee or quantify the volume of business that it will offer to successful contractors.