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IRELAND’S SMALL BUSINESSES are being locked out of lucrative government tenders as the push to drive down prices sends millions in big contracts offshore.
The Small Firms Association (SFA) claims the attitude is costing Irish jobs as local operators are left unable to compete with overseas buying power.
SFA director Patricia Callan said a move to cut tender costs through large-scale contracts left out the many small businesses lacking the skills to band together for joint bids.
In its pursuit of the cheapest price, the government is neglecting the fact that this will not deliver either the quality, cost in use savings or service levels it desires, but will result in lost jobs here at home,” she said.
While the SFA says the government’s policy to save money was “valid”, it should be pulled into step with its plans to support jobs and enterprise.
Where have all the tenders gone?
TenderScout, a company which helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) win public contracts, claims foreign companies won 28% of all Irish public contracts last year.
In its annual report, the company said firms from the UK and Ireland were taking the biggest share, although French, Belgian and German companies were all enjoying the spoils.
Big firms like Eircom, UPC and PwC were also taking a disproportionate share of the tenders on offer, the report said.
Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin recently put the share of public contract money going overseas at under 5% of the total.
Callan said large foreign suppliers could use their buying power to compete on price and a new procurement system needed to be set up based on a “think small first” attitude.
READ: We should back female and elderly entrepreneurs better: small-business lobby
READ: ‘Be business focused not jobs focused’ – government told
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Surrogacy is exploitative IMHO. No one, gay or straight, is entitled to be a parent. I know that’s harsh but it’s also true.
@Sean Ryan: entitled? Yes I think that’s a fair point but those who can’t have children or have difficulty having them or those in same sex relationships should be given every opportunity to fulfil that need. I have met people who not been able to have children. It has cost them huge amounts of money even relationships & I think these people often deserve more help and support.
@Allora: I see it as a “want” rather than a “need”. People can be supported in wanting a child without surrogacy.
Babies rights ignored as usual
The whole idea of surrigacy is gruesomd
I’ve heard the same people make the argument that the sex trade commodities women’s bodies to the highest bidder, whilst also supporting surrogacy which commodities women’s bodies to the highest bidder.
@Ivor McTin: Really? You’re comparing someone bringing a life into the world to someone getting their hole? You do realise in the majority of cases surrogate mothers don’t actually have sex with the father. Why do you find a woman doing the most natural thing in the world- having a baby, offensive if it’s entirely a free and willing choice?
@David F. Dwyer: having a someone else’s baby for cash, without having to do the deed, is hardly what one would call “the most natural thing in the world” mate – lolz.
Also you are projecting “offense” on to the guy’s post. He was making an observation about other people – not getting outraged himself – jeez.
@UK Hurling Bloke: Why did you put “offense” in quotes when I used the adjective in its correct form, not a misspelling of the noun? Try reading what a person says instead of projecting yourself, you dink.
P.S. sorry for you that you consider procreation unnatural.
@David F. Dwyer: it’s not a free and willing choice, it’s a lucrative and willing choice.
@Coco Walsh: So what?
Because Ireland clearly has not faked enough birth certificates in the past
Sorry to break it to some of you, but not every surrogate does it for money.. some offer to become a surrogate for friends or family because all other options have been exhausted… it’s the greatest gift that can be given …
have your say