Government rebuffs calls for Brexit procurement exemption

The government has decided not to seek an exemption from EU rules so it can ring-fence more state contracts for Irish businesses.

It spends €12 billion a year on infrastructure, goods and services, but under EU law, the contracts have to be opened up to businesses across the EU.

Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes had called on the government to apply for temporary exemptions from these EU procurement rules to help businesses most ...