We usually share time at the start of a motion.

Sentiment score: 0.30

It is fair to say I am about to speak on a Bill which, at first, I did not fully understand. It is not one that, when you sit down to read it initially, will get your blood boiling and make you excited, but that is exactly what good administration should be about because when public procurement becomes exciting, it usually means that something has gone wrong, and we have seen too many instances of that. This Bill probably shapes people's lives in a way that they will not fully understand just yet. This is about how the State spends billions of euro every year on schools, hospitals, roads, IT systems and services. It all flows through procurement rules. Under EU law, contracts must be awarded on what is called the most economically advantageous tender and that can mean best price and quality combined or it can mean lowest price only. Ireland chose for a strict lowest price only when we transposed that law and this Bill clearly says that maybe we should rethink that. The Bill says that in principle contracts should be awarded on the best price-quality ratio and that if a public body decides that price alone is enough, it should explain why. That is by no means revolutionary. It is not anti-market. It is not red tape gone mad. It is asking the State to pause for a second and ask whether we are buying the cheapest thing or the best outcome. It also proposes that for major public works above €5.35 million-----

Sentiment score: 0.18

Yes, but I thought the Ceann Comhairle was going to give us back the time.

Sentiment score: 0.21

We are very excited.

Sentiment score: 0.40