John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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179. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to review current procurement procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17394/15]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is aware of the current procurement procedures for goods and services that are applicable to small and medium businesses; his plans to address these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17395/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.

The reform of the procurement system across the public service is a key element of the reform programme for the public service.  The fragmented procurement arrangements across the public service have enabled suppliers to charge different public service bodies different prices for the same goods and services. Public Procurement savings are necessary to enable public service organisations deliver much needed services within the tighter budgets that they must now operate.

However, I would point out that reforms in this area are being carried out in a manner that recognises the importance of SMEs.  The Government acknowledges the significant role that SMEs play in the Irish economy and is committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged with public sector procurement and the opportunities presenting.  Circular 10/14 issued in 2014 by my Department is aimed at opening up opportunities for small businesses that want to tender for public contracts and also to ensure that engaging with government procurement is easy and low cost.  This guidance set out positive measures that contracting authorities are to take to promote the involvement of smaller enterprises as well as highlighting practices that are to be avoided because they can hinder small businesses in competing for public contracts.

In terms of revising the procedures that govern public procurement, the Office of Government Procurement is in the process of transposing three Directives into Irish Law. A public consultation process in respect of the three new EU public procurement Directives was initiated at the end of October 2014 and 43 submissions were received by end January 2015.  The issues raised in these submissions are undergoing consideration at present. The transposition process is on track to meet the deadline of April 2016.  

I would add that the OGP supports the work of Enterprise Ireland and InterTrade Ireland in building awareness of public procurement and supporting training for small suppliers in bidding for public contracts.  For example, last year the Office of Government Procurement supported two "Meet the Buyer" events in Belfast and Dublin which were attended by over 1,100 suppliers. The Office of Government Procurement also supported the 'Go 2 Tender' programme run by InterTrade Ireland which was attended by approximately 400 SME's.  This year InterTrade Ireland also delivered a programme on consortia building to assist SME's to jointly bid for state contracts. 

The OGP will continue to work with suppliers and business representatives to ensure that winning government business is done in a fair, transparent and accessible way and to ensure that Government procurement policies are business friendly.