Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2026
81. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 206 and 207 of 25 June 2026, her views on the article (details supplied); to give an update on the costs associated with this tender; which departments the funding has come from to purchase these vehicles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49916/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union will be an important opportunity for Ireland to shape Europe’s policy direction, lead important aspects of the EU’s work, and showcase Ireland’s engagement, expertise and values at the heart of the European Union. The Government has committed in the Programme for Government to resourcing and delivering a successful Presidency.
As part of the Presidency programme, Ireland will host high-level meetings in Ireland including an informal meeting of the European Council and a summit meeting of the European Political Community, as well as a programme of 22 informal Council meetings at Ministerial level. More than 270 other Presidency meetings and events are expected to be hosted in Ireland.
In line with the precedents established by previous EU Presidencies, the provision of secure ground transport services is essential to ensure the security and safety of visiting delegations and to facilitate the smooth operation of meetings taking place in Ireland.
With the support of the Office of Government Procurement, under my Department's allocation for the Presidency under the Revised Estimates for 2026, a number of public procurement processes were undertaken to put in place the complex and varied transport services required to deliver the scale of the overall meetings programme.
Vehicles being secured as part of this transport service are being leased rather than purchased.
The public procurement processes are complete. The relevant expected costs, as set out in the published award notices in the Official Journal of the EU, are as follows:
• Ground Transport Management Services Operator to provide ground transport management services, drivers and planning for meetings - €4,452,096;
• Lease of a core fleet of vehicles (40 cars, 44 minivans) for motorcade provision – €781,835;
• Lease of armoured vehicles for specific meetings - €1,200,000.
