Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a company (details supplied) is eligible to continue to bid for State contracts. [46068/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education and Skills at all times acts in accordance with public procurement legislation.

Under the EU Procurement Directives, it is very difficult to exclude a contractor from a tendering process. The grounds for exclusion would need to be objectively demonstrable and the burden of proof is quite high.

In terms of future contracts, the Department will at all times act in accordance with the legislation governing public procurement and will take legal advice as necessary.