Chainsaw contracts and tender procedures
Mitchell asked about chainsaw suppliers, contract values, company directors and tendering over the past ten years. O’Toole said the contracts totalled about £500,000, servicing was done in Department workshops, directors’ details were not a departmental matter, and prescribed sealed-tender procedures had been followed.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry (a) which companies have been given the contract for the purchase of chainsaws in each of the past ten years; (b) the value of the contract including the subsequent service contract; (c) the directors of the companies; and (d) if he will confirm that tender procedures are being fully used.
Comment on this
As the reply is substantially in the form of a tabular statement I propose to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
(a)
(b) It is not the practice to divulge the value of contracts in individual cases. However, it may meet the Deputy's requirements to know that the aggregate value of the contracts for the period in question amounted to £500,000 approximately. As all servicing of chainsaws is carried out in the Department's workshops the question of service contracts does not arise.
(c) The provision of this information would not be a matter for my Department.
(d) Yes. All prescribed procedures for the holding of sealed tender competitions are strictly followed.
Comment on this
I suggest to Deputies that when a Minister states that the reply is in the form of the tabular statement it should be accepted in that form and that we do not have a mixture of oral and written answer.
Comment on this
I am trying to ascertain if tender procedures were properly followed in this case. It will be very difficult for me to raise the matter at a later stage. As it is a matter of public interest I should like to ask the Minister if tender procedures were followed.
Comment on this
If there is something in the reply that the Deputy wishes to investigate further he may apply to raise the matter on the Adjournment. I have considered this and I do not think it satisfactory to have a discussion on a matter when the Minister has answered it by way of tabular statement. When the Minister starts to give some information on the matter it is neither one thing nor the other. If the Minister wishes to read out the entire reply he is at liberty to do so but if it is a tabular statement I suggest we leave it at that.
Comment on this
While I accept without question the ruling of the Chair, the tabular statement refers to the tabular information sought. I also asked in the question if tender procedures were followed properly. Will the Minister oblige me by giving a brief reply on that part of the question?