Rules governing public contracts
Dukes challenges the apparent lack of a coherent policy and asks where EEC rules constrain decisions. Brady says fair competition is being examined and that EEC rules for major contracts do not apply in every case.
Are we to understand that the line is more or less as follows: the Minister in his first reply indicated that there were certain EEC rules which limited local authorities' freedom of action in the matter; I think he said that. Secondly, we have the Taoiseach saying that, if anything, no active discrimination should be carried out on behalf of Northern Ireland firms, as was referred to by Deputy P. Barry. Thirdly we have the Minister who says——
Comment on this
I am trying to establish if I understand correctly what the Minister has said. Is it not the case that there is absolute and total confusion on this issue without any idea of coherent policy? Is it not further the case that there is a wide area of public contracts in respect of which we are not bound by any EEC rules and in respect of which the Minister, if he so wished, could apply the kind of guidelines he has given as being his personal view of how we should do things?
Comment on this
(Dublin South-East): The confusion is in the Deputy's mind because I am left in no doubt, as the contents of the reply I have given to the House indicates, that the situation is constantly being examined with a view to the fairest possible competition being provided by firms operating within the State and that they are given the fairest crack of the whip. I do not believe the Deputy in this question got the point of what I call major contracts. Major contracts are over a certain value. I am quite sure the Deputy is aware of that from his EEC experience. It does not apply in every case so it would be wrong to give that impression to the House.