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Donate to our crowdfunderSimon Hamilton: ...Ireland companies are trading with those in the South. There is significant scope to see growth in that trade. I want to encourage it, and we should do all that we can to ensure that it grows. Procurement is a matter that the Department of Finance and Personnel deals with, so I want to see more companies here involved in that area.
Carál Ní Chuilín: ...on one of the issues that Simon Hamilton raised about the rest of the regeneration. If those 200 social houses appear, it will be an important boost to the construction industry in that area. What procurement steps has the Minister taken with the housing associations for that much-needed contract?
Caitriona Ruane: ...to provide a schools estate that is fit for the twenty-first century, and my Department and I have fully utilised the funding that is available to do that. I also support the need to ensure that a procurement mechanism is put in place to expedite the provision of capital works, and my Department and I are also doing everything in our power to deliver on that. Aontaím go huile is go...
Conor Murphy: ...transit division is preparing an outline business case for the project. The outline business case process will identify the preferred options for rapid transit with regard to the network routes, a procurement strategy, a commercial business model and a fare system. Identifying the preferred options will allow the Department to undertake the necessary public consultation, impact assessments...
Conor Murphy: The Member will know that we signed off on the procurement of 20 new trains last year. I do not have the exact details to hand, but I recollect that they are to come into service in 2012 or 2013. The Member and other East Antrim Members have raised the issue of trains on the Larne line on many occasions. There is a commitment, when the new trains come into service, to replace the trains on...
Martin McGuinness: ...an interim review of the policy on classified advertising. That review, to be undertaken by OFMDFM officials, will include some of the highest spending Departments, with support from the Central Procurement Directorate. The approach to campaign advertising is different. Competitive rates for government have been negotiated with each of the main media organisations. That approach now...
Trevor Lunn: ...a maintenance example, one could talk to a head teacher on the Springfield Road who regards himself now as more a plumber and electrician than a head teacher. I notice that the motion refers to a procurement mechanism to expedite the provision of capital projects. That is fair enough: we should have a good, efficient procurement mechanism. However, if it were speeded up at the moment, it...
Sammy Wilson: ...) delivery tracking system (DTS) portal gives firms good advance warning of what public projects are coming down the line so that those companies can prepare to make bids. We have tried to make the procurement process and the pre-qualification process, which can be time-consuming, as simple as possible. Once inputted, information does not need to be put in time and time again. We have...
Dolores Kelly: ...forward powers that are proposed for inclusion in the draft waste Bill could enhance the confidence of bidders and financiers who are being encouraged to compete to provide waste infrastructure procurement. Although that may be welcome for the management of waste in general across the North, the Committee’s primary concern was the impact that European waste management obligations would...
Arlene Foster: ...data transfer. In other words, the data came to Dublin but took a disproportionately long time to get to Londonderry. People in Newry cannot say that that is the case for them. As part of the procurement process, bidders were invited to specify locations where they might be prepared to establish additional points of presence. Hibernia Atlantic specified seven additional locations in...
Margaret Ritchie: ...for Social Development endorsed the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendations at its meeting on 15 January 2009, and the new criteria were also subject to public consultation. Following a procurement exercise, two new warm homes scheme managers, H&A Mechanical Services Limited and Bryson Charitable Group, were appointed, and the new scheme came into operation on 1 July 2009. I set...
Michael McGimpsey: ...but Mr Buchanan will be aware of the turbulence in the financial markets. One day, PFI is best value for money, according to the Department of Finance and Personnel; the next day, it is traditional procurement. We are building the new acute hospital in Enniskillen using PFI at a cost of £260-odd million. In the next stage, we considered the Omagh hospital and decided that it was not value...
Edwin Poots: ...because the work that they carry out was previously carried out by 26 authorities. If we reduce the number of authorities from three to one, we will be in a far more powerful position as regards procuring and selling our recyclates. Northern Ireland can benefit significantly, including financially, from the creation of a single waste authority. We are here to deliver benefits for the...
Michelle Gildernew: ...Members will be interested to note that the vessel is insured at its estimated European replacement value of £1·5 million. I am aware that certain allegations have been made about the vessel’s procurement. The allegations are under investigation by departmental officials, so it is not appropriate for me to comment further until the investigations are complete. I am aware that there...
Simon Hamilton: ...can be derived and where it is not politically motivated. I want to see more shoppers coming from the South and shopping in the retail outlets in Northern Ireland, more Northern Ireland companies procuring contracts across the border and more Northern Ireland companies selling their goods to customers in the South. I have no hesitation in saying that. The question is not whether we should...
Paul Maskey: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I was glad to hear the Minister mention the Audit Office’s recent report on the procurement of the contract. I am glad to hear that Roads Service is indemnified against any damage and liability. Given that there is cross-departmental working between the Minister’s Department, DARD and Roads Service, who will be responsible for the Clowney Water river?
Fra McCann: ...stated that there should be more cross-border co-operation. It is clear that that would have a positive impact on business when one considers that over €6 billion is spent each year on public procurement of works, services and goods, and most of it goes to overseas companies. By incorporating social clauses into procurement contracts, the Assembly can ensure that businesses are compelled...
Margaret Ritchie: ...for a generation. That has included the creation of more shared future housing; the launch of our shared neighbourhood programme; bringing back into use former military housing; developing a new procurement strategy to deliver more efficiently than ever before; and more private finance from the European Investment Bank. We have delivered 1,750 new homes this year, which is our biggest...
Conor Murphy: Provided that there are no challenges to the procurement process, it is expected that contractors will be appointed by the end of November this year to provide design advice and to construct the proposed dualling of the A5.
Michael McGimpsey: I remain committed to the Omagh hospital. It is very much part of our plan to develop better services for the future of hospitals. We have been reviewing the procurement process for the Omagh hospital, the choice being between direct procurement and PFI. Given the way in which the money markets in London have been going, that will be an exercise for each major project as we go forward. The...