COMMENT: New EU rules may open trillion-euro procurement market to Irish firms

Annually, Ireland spends €8.5 billion on goods and service; EU countries spend €1.3 trillion

The impact of the new EU rules - which are being transposed into Irish law - is potentially far reaching Pic: Getty

Back in February 2014 the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted new rules forpublic procurement.

Now they are about to be transposed into Irish law to create a more efficient and effective pan-European procurement system. Their impact is potentially far reaching, presenting both opportunities and challenges for public procurement stakeholders in Ireland.

Two central themes underpin the latest reform effort. The first is simplification of procurement rules. For suppliers, ...