Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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31. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the contracts a person's businesses and-or subsidiaries (details supplied) have with her Department; the value of these contracts; their length; and the other companies that entered the tendering process which resulted in this person's companies winning the contract. [12360/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The procurement of supplies and services is essential to support the Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner.

Public procurement is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework. In particular procurement practice is governed by EU Directive 18 of 2004and supported by procurement guidelines published by the Department of Finance, and circulars of the Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure & Reform. In accordance with EU Directives, public contracts above certain values must be advertised EU-wide and awarded to the most competitive tender in an open and objective process. The guiding principles are to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers value for money. The Department also participates fully in ongoing initiatives by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) to achieve procurement savings. Procurement policy for the Department is available on its website .

The Department is compliant with best practice in the procurement of supplies and services. I regret it is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy without the details of the companies and subsidiaries concerned.