Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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2698. To ask the Minister for Health if all external legal fees incurred by her Department, and by any bodies under its aegis, are charged at negotiated discounted rates; how fees are monitored for compliance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41506/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Legal services are procured through open procedures and Request for Quotes (RFQs) in line with public procurement rules. These procedures do not involve negotiation of fees after the tender process has concluded.

Service providers are invited to submit tenders in response to a clearly defined set of requirements. All bidders are evaluated against pre-established criteria. Pricing is submitted as part of the competitive tender process and forms part of the overall evaluation.

The successful tender is selected on the basis of overall value for money which includes cost, quality and other relevant factors.

I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Details for other bodies under the aegis of my Department are operational matters for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.