Written answers
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Horse Racing Industry
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1041. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 153 and 154 of 6 March 2024, to name the contractors/employees named as part of the management team in the tender submitted by the Irish Horse Board in April 2022 for sport horse marketing services; the qualifications, QQI Framework Level of said qualification, and name of institution awarding such qualification, of each contractor/employee identified as delivering said contract, if successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12895/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The contract for the provision of Marketing Services to the sport horse sector and was awarded to the Irish Horse Board following a competitive tendering process carried out by my Department in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
The Request for Tender required that "the proposed team must include at least one member or contractor with a qualification in Marketing, Business Studies, or Business Management or other relevant disciplines at Diploma/ Certificate/Degree level".
I am satisfied that the Irish Horse Board met this requirement in their tender submission.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1042. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 155 of 6 March 2024, the reason his Departmental official is listed on a website (details supplied) as the FOI contact for the Irish Horse Board; what measures to comply with freedom of information have been taken by the Irish Horse Board; if he has trust in the organisation’s ability to comply with FOI and further GDPR regulations; if he has sought a report on the measures taken by the Irish Horse Board since January 2023 to comply with FOI and GDPR legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12896/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed that the contact details on the FOI website of the Irish Horse Board are outdated. Accordingly, officials in my Department have instructed the named organisation to amend the website to reflect the correct contact details.
The Irish Horse Board is a Co-operative Society and compliance with legislation pertaining to both the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) are a matter for the Irish Horse Board.
I have not requested a report on this matter.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1043. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, the number of panel members involved in reviewing the equine marketing tender; the names of any public/civil servant and names of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; the name and grade of any other civil servants present or attending the evaluation meetings; the memberships held by members, or memberships of equestrian bodies held by family associates of the equine marketing tender evaluation panel; the qualifications and institute where such qualifications were awarded of each member of the panel and any the other necessary skills he considers each member of the panel to have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12897/24]
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1044. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, to provide the name/confirm the officials and name of external persons involved in reviewing or scoring the equine marketing tender undertaken by his Department in April 2022; the memberships held by members, the memberships of equestrian bodies held by family associates of the equine marketing tender evaluation panel; the qualifications and institutes where such qualifications were awarded to each member of the panel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12898/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1043 and 1044 together.
Following a complaint that was lodged with the EU Commission in March 2018, and following communications between my Department and the Commission, it was agreed that a public procurement process would take place in 2022 in respect of certain services including the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector.
Procurement processes for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector was carried out by my Department in accordance with National and EU Procurement Guidelines.
The evaluation process comprises of 2 stages, 1) a compliance check where applicants can pass or fail and 2) evaluation of the submissions of those applicants that pass stage 1.
The compliance check (stage 1) consisted of three Department officials at Higher Executive Officer, Agricultural Inspector and acting Assistant Principal levels. This stage involved assessing if the required documentation and other compliances as outlined in the RFT has been met/submitted with the submission, for example, receipt before closing date, eESPD document received, etc. The personnel carrying out the compliance checks had no other role to play in the evaluation, review or scoring of the submissions.
The adjudication panel (stage 2) in respect of the tender competition for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector in Ireland consisted of Chair at Principal Officer level and two outside panellists. The independent evaluation panel were selected for the individual skills and professional expertise they could bring to the process.
I am satisfied that all members of the evaluation team were impartial and independent in the context of the procurement procedure and had the required experience and knowledge to carry out the evaluation.
All members of the evaluation team properly completed confidentiality/conflict of interest declaration forms.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1045. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, the reasons for awarding a contract given a separating score of 1.1% between two bidders; if he will provide a full objective assessment of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of all tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12899/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Following a complaint that was lodged with the EU Commission in March 2018, it was agreed between my Department and the Commission that a public procurement process would take place in 2022 in respect of certain services including the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector.
Procurement processes for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector were carried out by my Department in accordance with National and EU Procurement Guidelines.
The Request for Tenders for the provision of Marketing Services for the Sport Horse Sector specified a number of criteria against which tenders meeting the eligibility criteria were assessed.
This assessment was carried out in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines by an independent assessment panel.
Each eligible tender was required to meet a minimum (pass) mark and following assessment the highest overall scoring tender was deemed successful, in accordance with the Guidelines. Accordingly, the contract was awarded to the highest scoring tenderer, submitted by the Irish Horse Board, in line with Public Procurement Guidelines.
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1046. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024, if he will publish all tenders submitted in the public interest; if he will publish elements not deemed commercially sensitive; if he will seek consent from bidders to publish their respective tenders in full in failing to publish any of tenders received; if he will publish the table of contents of each bid received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12900/24]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The contract for the provision of Marketing Services to the sport horse sector (as referred to Parliamentary Question No. 157 of 6 March 2024) was awarded to the Irish Horse Board following a competitive tendering process carried out by my Department in accordance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
In accordance with clause 2.16 'Freedom of Information', my officials have consulted with the two Tenderers about the confidentiality or commercial sensitivity of their submissions and the release of this information as requested.
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