§ Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGHasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state if tenders were invited for the contract entered into by the Board of Works for the heating and ventilation of the law library in the Four Courts, Dublin; if not, can he say why; with what film was the contract placed; and why contractors were precluded from tendering for the supply of a fan manufactured in Ireland, seeing that the Sirocco fan is used in battleships and in public buildings all over the world?
§ Mr. LONSDALEasked whether the contract for the heating and ventilation of the law library, Four Courts, Dublin was publicly advertised by the Irish Board of Works; if not, whether he will explain why the usual course was not followed in this case; and whether he will state the amount of the contract and how much of the cost will be provided out of public funds, and explain why, in the specification for the ventilation portion of the contract, a particular fan of English manufacture was specified, thus excluding Irish manufacturers from competing?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am informed that the contract was not advertised for, as the work is difficult and of a special nature. The Board of Works for Ireland invited competitive tenders from three firms with whose work they are acquainted. Two of these firms are Irish and one Scottish. The Board did not specify any make of fan, but left each firm tendering to specify the fan which it thought most suitable, subject to consideration and approval of the Board, and so tender has yet been accepted.
§ Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGHIs it not a fact that in all these tenders by the 712 Board of Works public competition is invited? Why was that course departed from?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI do not think that is the case, but I will make inquiry.
§ Mr. LONSDALEWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether the contract was advertised in the newspapers?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI have said it was not.