Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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573. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in view of the fact that in November 2013, before the postcode contract was finally signed, a European Commission procurement investigation team formally confirmed a breach of European Union procurement legislation to his Department, and that the team also indicated that other elements of the process did not comply with guidelines and best practice, requiring specific action by the Irish authorities to ensure that similar illegal criteria were not employed again, but the postcode contract was signed without review when his Department will respond, as required by the European Union investigation team; the way related interdepartmental communications can be improved in the event of similar investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17432/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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My Department received correspondence from the European Commission during 2012 in relation to a complaint regarding the procurement process for the National Postcode System and provided a full response to all clarifications requested. The case was fully examined by the European Commission which informed the Department in November 2013 that the file had been closed on the basis that the Commission could not establish any breach of EU public procurement law that would justify the opening of an infringement procedure.

In relation to future procurements, the Commission asked the Department to inform them of the measures put in place by the Irish authorities to avoid any possible misinterpretation of the language used in the pre-qualification questionnaire – the prelude to the postcode tendering process. My Department responded to the Commission in October 2014.

My Department has received further correspondence on 13 April 2015 from the Commission. The Commission again stated they do not intend to re-open the procurement but have asked for further information on the measures that have been adopted by the Irish authorities in relation to the issue raised. My Department will be responding shortly to this correspondence, following consultation with the Office of Government Procurement.