Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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126. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount paid by his Department to external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms, and consultants in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26232/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department commissions external contractors, consultancy services and outsourcing 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.

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 and outsourced legal, HR and accountancy services engaged by the Department in 2022: