Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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557. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the conflict of interest register regarding the bidding element of the national broadband plan will be provided; the way in which conflicts of interest were notified to senior NBP process management staff; if a person (details supplied) had full access to the register at all times; the number of entries made to the register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50642/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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In line with the requirements of the Communications Protocol, section 10 on Conflicts of Interest, the key personnel, internal and external, responsible for the NBP are listed on my Department's website at: www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/communications/topics/Broadband/national-broadband-plan/state-intervention/Pages/Project-Team-Structure-and-Advisors---.aspx.

This outlines the Departmental senior management, core team and external advisors.

The NBP Communications Protocol states that all members of the NBP team sign and keep updated Conflict of Interest Declarations.  This is maintained by the NBP procurement team. If a member of the NBP team becomes aware of an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest at any stage during the process, they must as soon as practicable bring this actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest to the attention of senior management on the NBP project and in the first instance their immediate Manager on the NBP project.

The rules relating to conflict of interest are set out in the procurement documentation for the process, which Mr Smyth had access to in his role as process auditor.

The process auditor was also free, at his own discretion, to review all relevant documentation held by the Department and\or to seek written or oral inputs from any relevant parties as part of his review of the NBP procurement process.