Written answers
Tuesday, 22 October 2019
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Value for Money Reviews
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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132. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the consultancy service providers engaged by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; the costs associated with each (details supplied); the reason for each service engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43315/19]
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of each value for money and policy review conducted by his Department from 1 January 2018 to 1 January 2019; the cost of each exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43332/19]
Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes - Vote 27 (International Co-operation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade).
The Department seeks to minimize expenditure on consultants. It commissions external expertise in line with national and EU procurement rules in areas where highly specialised skills are not available, in particular where independent evaluation of projects is required. During the course of their engagement, these consultants and experts may prepare reports and other analysis or documentation for the Department.
In-depth analysis of issues by external experts has informed, and continues to inform, the Department’s policies, allowing for a more targeted use of resources and greater accountability in the allocation of budgets.
Consultancy Services and Value for Money and Policy Reviews are charged to subhead Administration (vii) in both Votes. Details of the amount of expenditure for these under subhead Administration (vii) in 2018, and up to 18 October 2019, and the reason for each service are detailed in the following table.
Details of Subhead Administration (vii) Consultancy Services and Value for Money and Policy Reviews 2018
| Name | Costs | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Fitzpatrick Associates | € 25,830 | For the provision of evaluation-related services to the Evaluation and Audit Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. |
| RA Consulting | € 6,900 | Customised Workshop Programme to develop Objectives and Key Performance Indicators for Managing the Performance of Business Units. |
| Democrashe (Bronagh Hinds and Debbie Donnelly) | € 14,367 | A Final Review of Ireland's second National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 (the Women, Peace and Security Agenda). Building on a mid-term review undertaken in 2016, the purpose of the final review was to measure progress in the implementation of commitments and plans set out in Ireland’s second National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2015-2018. |
| Leading Edge | € 24,293 | Giving effect to a commitment in the National Plan on Business and Human Rights, a tender was awarded to Leading Edge for the baseline assessment of the legislative and regulatory framework pertaining to business and human rights as it applies in Ireland. |
| Tara Shine and Martin le Tissier | € 28,895 | Small Island Developing States Scoping Exercise – to inform development of a new strategy for engagement with Small Island Developing States. The Strategy was subsequently launched in June 2019. |
| Tara Shine | € 14,760 | Concept Paper on Earth Air and Oceans to contribute to DFAT’s and the broader Government’s work on responding to the challenge of climate change. |
| Deirdre Clancy | € 11,782 | Consultancy for Somalia Strategy. |
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