Public projects 'should factor in advantages other than price to allow Irish firms compete'

A group representing Irish businesses wants to see changes to the public procurement process to focus on the most advantageous tender price rather than price alone when selecting contractors.

The call comes in advance of a meeting of stakeholders with the Office of Government Procurement today.

Chambers Ireland is calling on the Government to change the process, and to factor in other advantages as well as price to the process.

Deputy chief executive of the association Seán Murphy has said firms are extremely frustrated.

"(Carrying out) work at a cheaper price may ostensibly sound like a good thing," he said, "but if it leads to the loss of jobs in Ireland...the loss in terms of higher dole numbers and lower taxes paid (here), then it's (a) much more expensive (approach) on a broader balance sheet level."