Government failing to help Irish companies

WITH regard to Richard Bruton’s concern over state agencies doing more to support Irish goods and services through public procurement practice in Ireland, I feel that it will take a lot more than “concern” to move the civil servants who administer the tenders to think outside the box.

Already this year, we have seen the Defence Forces award two different food contracts to companies outside the state. During the reign of then Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea, the Defence Forces awarded the poultry contract to an outside company in the same year as Castlemahon (in the minister’s own county) and Cappoquin chickens closed down. Could you imagine the reaction if the French Army awarded their poultry contract to a Belgian company? Blockades and burning cars spring to mind.

Indeed, the people in charge of procurement will state that they have adhered to the tendering process in accordance with domestic and EU law, including Statutory Instrument, etc. So did the French, but they were willing to look and think outside the box to give their small and indigenous firms every chance of competing. We can look forward to soundings from the Government to show our national support and stay away from shopping trips to Newry over the Christmas period and to support local and our hard-hit economy. Do as I say, but not as I ...