Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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397. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the behaviour of companies (details supplied) in the delivery of the previous emergency call answering service contract was taken into consideration when the new contract to the firms was awarded; and his views on whether a firm operating a State contract will deliver the new contract in a similar manner. [47809/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The procurement process for a new Emergency Call Answering Service (ECAS) Operator is being conducted in an open and transparent basis in accordance with relevant national public procurement policy and the European Union Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC. The successful tenderer will be obliged to comply with all laws applicable in Ireland including employment, health and safety, discrimination and equality legislation. The procurement process has not yet been concluded and the contract has not been awarded. The process is at an advanced stage and I expect the award to be finalised shortly.

In relation to the industrial action at one of the ECAS centres in 2016, I understand that the company contracted by BT Ireland to provide staff to respond to emergency calls has engaged with the Workplace Relations Commission Advisory Service and the Labour Court in relation to the industrial relations issues raised by staff and union representatives. The case is currently on-going before the Labour Court.