Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
467. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will request the Comptroller and Auditor General to conduct a detailed review of Irish Prison Service expenditure on media, podcasts, and influencer contracts since 2020. [53858/25]
View answerPublic procurement is governed by EU and national rules and I can assure the Deputy that my Department ensures appropriate procedures are followed for procurement activity. As the Deputy may know, all Government Departments are obliged to ensure that public procurement is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and that contract prices represent best value for money.
Public procurement practices are subject to audit and scrutiny under the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993. Procurement is also subject to internal audit within my Department.
In line with the Department of Finance Circular 40/02, my Department makes an annual return to the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) in respect of contracts above the applicable threshold which are awarded without a competitive process. This requirement applies to all procurement. These are detailed in my Department's annual Appropriation Accounts as published by the C&AG, and is subject to scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee.
Any uncompetitive procurements relating to a framework would have been reported as part of this process. My Department’s 2024 submission was submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General earlier this year, with the 2022 and 2023 accounts accessible on the Comptroller and Auditor General’s website.
Separate to reporting under Circular 40/02, Circular 09/24 sets out a new annual reporting requirement relating to the use of centralised procurement arrangements including Office of Government Procurement (OGP) frameworks. Reports will identify any contracts for goods or services, valued more than €143,000 (exclusive of VAT), where a central procurement arrangement has not been used.
