Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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167. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government why his successor met with a person (details supplied) on 27 February 2012 who was lobbying on behalf of a company; if the purpose of the meeting was to lobby for the company's interest in the Irish Water call centre contract, which was due to go to tender at that time; if he will release any minutes taken at the meeting; if it is appropriate that large corporations which subsequently go on to obtain large State contracts should have access to Ministers in this fashion, without a record of what was discussed being available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45539/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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As Irish Water is a commercial utility and a subsidiary of Ervia (formerly Bord Gáis Éireann), formed and registered under the Companies Act, neither I, as Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, nor my predecessor has had any role in relation to the procurement by Irish Water of external resources or service providers. These are operational matters for the company.

My predecessor as Minister received a request for a meeting with the company concerned and subsequently met with company representatives on 27 February 2012. Department records show that this was an introductory meeting where a profile of the company was provided to the Minister. As such, no minute was taken of the meeting.

The procurement of call centre services, which commenced with the publication of a contract notice in October 2012 and on foot of which a contract was awarded in May 2013, was wholly managed by Ervia/Irish Water, in compliance with public procurement rules.