Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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143. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of each time his Department, or public bodies under the aegis of his Department, enlisted the services of consultants in 2022; the purpose and value of each contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18732/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department commissions consultancy services where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular, where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is necessary.

External expertise has informed, and continues to inform, my Department's strategies and policies and the effective delivery of our services to our citizens in a transparent and accountable manner representing value for money.

Such external expertise may involve the provision of specialised reports, expert analysis or expert technical services to the Department.

A small number of consultancies are engaged directly by our Missions abroad from time to time and in some instances they prepare technical reports relating to Ireland’s overseas development aid programme.

My Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement guidelines. Procurement takes place in compliance with Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP).

Provided is a table of consultants engaged by the Department in 2022: