§ MR. PETER M'DONALD (Sligo, N.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, If the several contracts by the Board of Works in Ireland, especially in regard to the supply of stores, furniture, &c., to the Public Departments are open to general competition after due notice by advertisement in the leading Dublin and provincial papers; or, whether a preferential intimation is merely given to a limited number of traders to whom thereby such contracts are in consequence confined?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HENRY H. FOWLER) (Wolverhampton, E.), in reply, said, that the means adopted to procure articles required by contract was based upon public competition, except in cases where a supply of one or two articles, which were obtained direct from certain quarters, which were found most suitable. The supplies were obtained by public, open competition, except for some very small or special purposes, where, as in the City of Dublin, it was found that large firms would not compete. On this account circulars were sent round to certain persons.
§ MR. BARRY (Wexford, S.)asked, would the hon. Gentleman give the names of the firms thus invited to compete?
§ MR. HENRY H. FOWLERI am unable to do so without Notice.