Dáil Éireann - Volume 608 - 25 October, 2005

Written Answers. - Consultancy Contracts.

Mr. Bruton Mr. Bruton

  358. Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the guidelines in place for the commissioning of outside expertise in the consultancy and public relations fields; and if ministerial approval is required for expenditure on such commissions. [30157/05]

Mr. O’Donoghue Mr. O’Donoghue

906

  Mr. O’Donoghue:In commissioning outside expertise in the consultancy and public relations fields my Department adheres to the Department of Finance publications, Guidelines for Engagement of Consultants in the Civil Service, 1999; Public Procurement Guidelines — Competitive Process, 2004; and all of the supplement to the Department of Finance circular 40/02. Responsibility for [906] the commissioning of consultancies by my Department is delegated to senior management.

New guidelines arising from the recommendations of the Quigley report have been circulated recently within my Department and will be adhered to in future.

Mr. Bruton Mr. Bruton

  359. Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the percentage of reports, consultancies and cases from external commissions where the issue of poor value for money in his Department was highlighted, from 1998 to date in 2005. [30172/05]

Mr. O’Donoghue Mr. O’Donoghue

  Mr. O’Donoghue:There are no instances in my Department where poor value for money has been highlighted in regard to reports, consultancies and cases from external commissions.

Dáil Éireann 608 Written Answers. Consultancy Contracts.

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