Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 2148 of 4 November 2025 to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in which he confirmed that, although not required by statute, his Department voluntarily publishes its annual consultancy spending online in the interest of transparency and accessibility, if his Department operates a similar practice; if not, whether consideration will be given to adopting this approach as a transparency measure consistent with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and wider open-government principles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68462/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to the principles of openness, transparency and the accountability of public bodies. Public procurement is governed by EU and national rules and my Department ensures that appropriate procedures are followed for all procurement activity.

An analysis of my Department’s expenditure is provided in the annual appropriation accounts for the Justice Vote (Vote 24). This includes reporting on consultancy-based expenditure. The appropriation accounts can be accessed on the website of the Comptroller & Auditor General at: www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation%20accounts/.

In line with an action in the Public Service Reform Plan (2011), my Department publishes all purchase orders of €20,000 or over on its website at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/collections/department-of-justice-purchase-orders-issued-over-20000-in-value/. A description of services, including consultancy is included in the quarterly reports.

My Department is planning to migrate to a new financial management shared services system supported by the NSSO next year. Once this has been completed, my officials will be in a better position to assess what further information can be routinely published.