Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2025
204. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of all reports, including consultancy reports commissioned by his Department from 1 January 2024 to date in 2025, that could be categorised as not for external publication or marked for internal use only; the cost of each report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57291/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation).
My Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagement, these consultants and experts may prepare reports and other documentation for the Department.
As the Deputy will see from the table below, Vote 27 expenditure includes reports on Ireland’s international development programme (Irish Aid). This programme is managed by the Development Cooperation and Africa Division (DCAD), coordinating with our missions abroad implementing bilateral development programmes, predominantly in Africa, but also in Latin America and South East Asia, with Political Division and with other Government Departments. It is shaped by the whole-of-government policy, A Better World, adopted in 2019 and framed by commitment to Agenda 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
External expertise has informed, and continues to inform my Department's strategies and policies and the effective delivery of our programme in a transparent and accountable manner representing value for money, allowing for a more targeted use of resources and greater accountability in the allocation of budgets.
These services are procured by open competitive tendering processes in accordance with EU and national rules and comply with the overall value for money objectives.
Please find the table below, which provides the details requested by the Deputy:
Vote 27
|
Year |
Name of Company |
Report |
Total Cost |
|
2024 |
ECDPM |
Strengthening Ireland’s Influence and Impact on EU Development Co-operation |
Part of a service delivery component of a larger contract with ECDPM. |
|
2024 |
INKA consultancy fees - Tranche 3 of 3 |
A guide to the Rio Marker Method & green development finance tracking |
€22,140 |
|
2024 |
Rachael Twinem |
Finalisation of guidance note for Vote 27 Strategy Implementation Plans |
€4,800 |
|
2024 |
Public Good Ltd. |
Review of the Africa Strategy and Innovation Fund |
€10,125 |
|
2024 |
KITE Limited |
Development of a Structured Ireland Fellows Alumni Programme |
€33,948 |
|
2024 |
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd. |
Technical Support for Monitoring Visit to Sierra Leone (re GOAL) |
€21,583 |
|
2024 |
Ed Hughes |
Technical Support for Monitoring Visit to Cameroon (re PLAN Ireland) |
€17,488 |
|
2024 |
IOD PARC |
Specialist Support for Monitoring Evaluation and Learning on Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership for A Better World (ICSP) |
€34,400 |
|
2024 |
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd |
Financial Risk Management Consultancy Services for Civil Society Funding Schemes |
€26,882 |
|
2024 |
Southern Cross Consulting |
Technical Support to the Civil Society Fund |
€17,072 |
|
2024 |
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd. |
Technical Support to the Civil Society Fund |
€18,942 |
|
2024 |
Hornbill Consultants Ltd. |
Technical Support to the Civil Society Fund |
€6,500 |
|
2024 |
Gumfoot Consultants Ltd. |
Technical Support for Monitoring Visit to Tanzania (re World Vision Ireland) |
€13,145 |
|
2024 |
Rachel Twinem |
Monitoring visit to Missionary Projects in Kenya |
€27,085 |
|
2024 |
Edward Hughes |
ICSP programme monitoring in Cameroon |
€17,489 |
|
2024 |
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd. |
ICSP programme monitoring in Tanzania |
€14,646 |
|
2024 |
Gumfoot Consultancy LTD |
Impact review of Irish Aid supported research under COALESCE and SDG Challenges |
€28,628 |
|
2024 |
ODI |
Strategic Partnership producing a series of thematic or technical reports for Irish Aid |
N/A produced as part of on-going strategic partnership with ODI |
|
2024 |
Institute of Development Studies, UK |
Strategic partnership producing a series of thematic or technical reports on Social Protection |
N/A produced as part of on-going strategic partnership with IDS |
|
2024 |
Emma Simpson Consulting |
Irish Global Health Network Technical Review |
€11,050 |
|
2024 |
Emma Simpson Consulting |
Royal College of Surgeons Technical Appraisal |
€1,900 |
|
2024 |
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) |
-The impacts of global crises on poverty and food security in 2023 and outlook for 2024 (January 2024) -Impacts of shipping disruptions in the Red Sea on global good security (January 2024) -Global fertilizer markets adjusted to crises, though smallholder profitability was likely adversely affected (April 2024) -Sustainable agriculture, resilient food systems, and climate action: An examination of the Emirati Declaration (May 2024) -Banking systems, capital markets, and financing the transformation of food systems: The role of macroeconomics, regulations, and incentives (August 2024) |
N/A produced as part of an overall payment to IFPRI |
|
2024 |
Genesis Analytics |
The Financial Review and Results Assessment of the Global Partnership for Education |
The report was commissioned in partnership by Denmark, Norway and Ireland. Of the total Cost €324,353, Ireland’s contribution was €97,500. |
|
2024 |
KITE Limited |
Review of Irish Aid Centre |
€13, 837 |
|
2024 |
KITE Limited |
Mid Term Review of GCE Strategy |
€4,613 |
|
2024 |
Deirdre Farrell |
Global Citizenship Education Annual Grant Partner Review |
€10,500 |
|
2024 |
Barbara Watson |
Global Citizenship Education Annual Grant Partner Review |
€8,839 |
|
2024 |
Vanessa Sheridan |
Global Citizenship Education Annual Grant Partner Review |
€4,500 |
|
2024 |
Adrienne Boyle |
Global Citizenship Education Annual Grant Partner Review |
€5,588 |
|
2024 |
KMQ Consulting |
Internal Review of Approaches to Mission Strategy Evaluations |
€31,119 |
|
2024 |
IDALIS BV |
Internal Review of Mission Expansion Programme 2018-2023 |
€23,626 |
|
2025 |
Barbara Wilson |
Global Citizenship Education Annual Grant Partner Review |
€5,513 |
|
2025 |
Adrienne Boyle |
Global Citizenship Education Annual Grant Partner Review |
€5,588 |
|
2025 |
Vanessa Sheridan |
Global Citizenship Education Annual Grant Partner Review |
€5,510 |
|
2025 |
Deirdre Farrell |
Global Citizenship Education Annual Grant Partner Review |
€6,000 |
|
2025 |
KITE |
Midterm Review of the Irish Aid Global Citizenship Education Strategy 2021-2025 |
€3,000 |
|
2025 |
DDA Ltd |
Mid-Term Review of Ireland’s 2nd Strategy for Partnership with SIDS |
€9,800 |
|
2025 |
Aisling Swaine |
Academic consultant to develop material on prevention and accountability of conflict related sexual violence |
€3,690 |
|
2025 |
Mirsad Jacevic |
Consultancy in the development of Ireland’s fourth National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security |
€21,000 |
|
2025 |
Gumfoot Consultancy |
ICSP programme monitoring in Bangladesh |
€19,394 |
|
2025 |
IOD PARC |
ICSP programme monitoring in Nepal |
€15,880 |
|
2025 |
Gumfoot Consultancy Ltd. |
ICSP programme monitoring in Sierra Leone |
€20,544 |
|
2025 |
IOD PARC |
ICSP programme monitoring in Colombia |
€22,270 |
|
2025 |
IOD PARC |
Specialist Support for Monitoring Evaluation and Learning on Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership for A Better World (ICSP) |
€28,840 |
|
2025 |
ODI |
Strategic Partnership producing a series of thematic or technical reports for Irish Aid |
N/A produced as part of on-going strategic partnership with ODI |
|
2025 |
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) |
Short report on the value of investing in nutrition |
N/A produced as part of an overall payment to IFPRI |
|
2025 |
Institute of Development Studies, UK |
Strategic partnership producing a series of thematic or technical reports on Social Protection |
N/A produced as part of on-going strategic partnership with IDS |
|
2025 |
Emma Simpson Consulting |
Global Health Actors Discussion Paper |
€2,600 |
|
2025 |
Emma Simpson Consulting |
Non-Communicable Disease and Mental Health Policy Paper |
€4,500 |
|
2025 |
Emma Simpson Consulting |
Refresh of the SRHR initiative |
€7,800 |
|
2025 |
Emma Simpson Consulting |
Humanitarian Unit Data Exercise |
€6,500 |
|
2024/2025 |
Adam Sweetman Consulting |
Evaluation Review of Africa Agri Food Development Programme and Recommendations Report |
€24,000 |
Vote 28
|
Year |
Name of Company |
Report |
Total Cost |
|
2024 |
Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants |
Embassy Abuja - Business Case Advisory Services (1/1) |
€6,027 |
|
2024 |
Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants |
Final Business Case Embassy Washington Residence & Chancery Project |
€23,780 |
|
2024 |
Irish Centre for Diversity |
Investors in Diversity Silver re-assessment |
€6,144 |
|
2024 |
University of Liverpool (Institute of Irish Studies) |
Manchester Community Needs Assessment |
€15,960 |
|
2024 |
Crowe Advisory Ireland Ltd |
Governance Review of Glencree Centre for Peace & Reconciliation |
€22,878 |
|
2025 |
PwC |
Review of Ireland’s Honorary Consul Network Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
€57,140 |
|
2025 |
International SOS Services (India) Pvt. Ltd |
Expert assessment and review of indoor air quality at Embassy New Delhi |
€32,319 |
|
2025 |
The Diaspora Institute |
Support to Develop the Government’s New Diaspora Strategy |
N/A – total cost will be assessed on completion of the project, in line with the terms of the contract. |
|
2025 |
Stranger’s Guide |
Events Strategy for Community Engagement in Texas |
€2,902 |
|
2025 |
Red C Research & Marketing LTD |
Passport Online Qualitative Research Project |
€29,766 |
