Public Procurement: Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-29
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Frankie Feighan (FG), Sligo-Leitrim

I thank the Senators for their contributions, which underline the very strong interest in public procurement across this House. This kind of engagement is not only welcome, but also essential if we are to deliver on the ambition of a more strategic and innovative, sustainable and transparent public procurement system that supports SMEs and delivers better public services and the best possible value for money for the taxpayer. For that reason, consultation and collaboration are central to the approach the Department is taking. Meaningful reform depends on ensuring that suppliers, public bodies and the public, directly or through their political representatives, are actively involved in shaping how public procurement evolves. The Department is therefore continuing to expand the scope and depth of strategic engagement to ensure the voices of all those with an interest in the future direction of public procurement in Ireland are heard.
As Minister of State with responsibility for public procurement I chair two high-level stakeholder groups which provide structured and ongoing channels of engagement. I chair the public procurement advisory council, which was established in 2024 to advise on the development of public procurement across the public sector. The council meets quarterly and provides me with guidance and advice on procurement policy, digital transformation, data analytics and strategic centralised procurement issues. I also chair the SME advisory group, which includes industry and public sector stakeholder representatives and provides a direct forum for SMEs to share their experiences of tendering for public contracts, and to raise issues affecting their participation. Earlier this month, reflecting the growing role that social enterprises play in delivering social and community outcomes through public procurement, the group was expanded for the first time to include representation from the social enterprise sector.
Alongside these high-level structures we are placing a strong emphasis on engagement at an operational level. The forthcoming national procurement strategy has been subject to an extensive consultation process, which has been critical to understanding the primary challenges and opportunities for both public bodies and suppliers, including micro and social enterprises. This engagement included a public consultation that ensures all those with an interest in the future direction of public procurement have an opportunity to inform the new strategy. Regional workshops were held in Dublin, Cork and Athlone that included public buyers and policy makers from across the public sector and representation from across the broad spectrum of Irish business, including social enterprises, representatives from civic society, public representatives and members of the public.
We recognise the crucial role played by SMEs, including social enterprises, in driving economic and societal prosperity. As stated earlier, the programme for Government includes a commitment to review the public procurement process to work towards greater participation from SMEs in Ireland. This commitment is reflected in one of the critical outcomes of the strategy, which is to make participation in public procurement easier for suppliers, particularly micros, startups, SMEs and social enterprises. This focus has been put into practice through targeted and early engagement with suppliers during the development of the strategy. A dedicated webinar was provided to help our suppliers. We undertook direct engagement with SME and social enterprise representative bodies during application of the SME test.
Beyond engagement to inform the strategy, the Department has always focused on creating practical opportunities for direct engagement between Government buyers and suppliers. In November 2025 we reached an important milestone with the first Government supply expo organised by the Office of Government Procurement. This event was designed specifically for the supplier base on the island of Ireland and operated in a trade show format.
It allowed suppliers to engage directly with procurement teams from the State's largest spending bodies. The response was extremely strong, with over 2,900 attendees on the day. It demonstrated the real value of direct engagement between Government buyers and suppliers. Building on the success of this event, the Department is working towards holding a further event next year.
In parallel with this expanded engagement with the supplier community, my Department is also strengthening its support of and engagement with public buyers to help embed better and more consistent public procurement practices right across the system. In the past year this has included information sessions on central procurement arrangements, eTenders training, practical guidance on core procurement requirements and a series of procurement officer network meetings hosted by the Office of Government Procurement. In total, almost 7,000 participants took part in these initiatives, reflecting the strong demand among public buyers for practical support.
Building on this progress, my Department will continue to expand the scope of our service offering for public buyers, supporting effective and successful implementation of the strategy. In that context, to date, discussions have been both timely and valuable, as outlined in my opening statement. My Department operates at the centre of the Government to drive improved public services, higher living standards and sustainable infrastructure for the people of Ireland. Public procurement is one of the key mechanisms through which these objectives are delivered in practice.
The forthcoming national public procurement strategy will bring together the work I have outlined today into a single coherent framework. Shaped by extensive consultation and formed by the experiences of public buyers and suppliers, it will set out the strategic direction of public procurement in Ireland for the next five years. It will represent a further step towards realising our ambition to build a more strategic, innovative, sustainable and transparent system of public procurement that supports SMEs, delivers better public services and the best possible value for money for the taxpayer.
I want to respond to a few of today's contributions. Senator Cathal Byrne said that the cheapest price is not necessarily the best and that we need value for money. He talked about large government working with small business. I do not just talk about SMEs, family businesses have to come into it. That is what this public procurement strategy is doing.
Senator Craughwell talked about strategic dependency and defence. He referred to the need to rethink our over-reliance on a single supplier. He is right. Governments change and we must be careful about over-reliance on a single supplier. Across Europe we need to consider the ever-changing geopolitical events.
Senator Davitt talked about EU countries. They are beginning to look at evaluating public procurement directives and modernising and simplifying procurement rules. We must also have a sustainable, strategic autonomy for European countries. That is happening.
Senator Andrews talked about the social value. The Executive in Northern Ireland did learn lessons from the Republic of Ireland. It brought in a procurement strategy that has a social value. That is in line with what we want as well. It is great that the United Kingdom is working with Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and across Europe and sharing good ideas. These are really good ideas.
I thank the people who started the office of public procurement and the Department of public expenditure in 2011 and 2012. Over the years it has brought a lot of organisations, Departments and local authorities into the procurement strategy. Having such a system in place is better for transparency and value for money and, most of all, it is better for taxpayers. That is what it is all about.
Senator Higgins talked about European procurement rules. We are a member of the European Union and we are waiting for the document on European procurement to come out - hopefully in the next few weeks. Ireland is working very closely on the new procurement strategy, which will have less administration. It will restructure how public money flows within the European Union. Sometimes we have a difference of opinion, but there are some very good ideas that can be included in the procurement strategy. Ireland will be working with Europe to have a strategy that is negotiated as well as possible.
I thank Senators for their contributions. The issues raised today provide a valuable perspective and will help shape further consideration on how best to advance that ambition.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:52+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-29