US embassy cable - 04DUBLIN1626

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001626 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR JGRIER 
STATE ALSO FOR EB/TPP/MTA/MST - ADILWORTH 
COMMERCE FOR SPIETAN AND JLIUZZI 
COMMERCE FOR MAC/ROBERT MCGLAUGHLIN 
GENEVA FOR USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: WETRD, WTRO, EUN 
SUBJECT: WTO GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT: IRELAND 
 
REF: STATE 214729 
 
1.  Per reftel, Post offers the recommendations below 
regarding potential areas for expansion of the market access 
commitments of the Parties under the WTO Agreement on 
Government Procurement (GPA).  Our suggestions focus 
primarily on the coverage of Ireland entities under the GPA. 
 
2.    The following government departments no longer exist 
under the names listed in the Annex 1 (B) list of Ireland 
Entities : 
 
-- Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry 
 
-- Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht 
 
-- Department of Education 
 
-- Department of Enterprise and Employment 
 
-- Department of the Environment 
 
-- Department of Health 
 
-- Department of Justice 
 
-- Department of the Marine 
 
-- Department of Tourism and Trade 
 
-- Department of Transport, Energy and Communications 
 
-- Department of Social Welfare 
 
3.  The departments in para 1 should be replaced with: 
 
-- Department of Agriculture and Food 
 
-- Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism 
 
-- Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources 
 
-- Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 
 
-- Department of Education and Science 
 
-- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 
 
-- Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government 
 
-- Department of Health and Children 
 
-- Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform 
 
-- Department of Social and Family Affairs 
 
-- Department of Transport 
 
4.  The list of bodies in Annex 2 and 3 should be updated as 
follows: 
 
-- Bord Bia (Food Board) vice Coras Beostoic agus Feola 
(Irish Meat Board) 
 
-- Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland vice Bord Failte Eirann 
(Irish Tourism Board) 
 
-- Local Government Management Services Board vice Local 
Government Staff Negotiations Board 
 
-- Enterprise Ireland vice Coras Trachtala (Irish Export 
Board) and Irish Goods Council.  Enterprise Ireland is the 
government agency into which Coras Trachtala and the Irish 
Goods Council have been folded.  The agency is responsible 
for the development of Irish industry, with a primary focus 
on technology innovation, business development, and 
internationalization. 
 
5.  Post recommends consideration of the following bodies as 
additions to the list of covered Irish entities: 
 
-- Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM, the Irish Seas Fisheries Board). 
 BIM is the state agency responsible for developing the Irish 
Sea fishing and acquaculture industries. 
 
-- Foras Aiseanna Saothair (Training and Employment 
Authority).  FAS provides job training, recruitment, and 
placement services for professionals, graduates, 
school-leavers, and overseas Irish citizens. 
-- Forfas.  An economic and sociological research 
institution, Forfas serves as the think tank for the 
Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment. 
 
-- The National Road Authority.  The Authority plans and 
supervises the construction and maintenance of Ireland's road 
networks. 
 
-- Science Foundation Ireland.  The Foundation supports 
research and government-academia cooperation that advances 
new technologies and enterprises, primarily in the 
biotechnology and ICT sectors. 
 
6.  The Contracting Entities in the Field of Airport 
Facilities should be updated as follows: 
-- Dublin Airport Authority vice Aer Rianta.  The Dublin 
Airport Authority is currently responsible for the management 
of the Dublin, Cork, and Shannon airports, with Aer Rianta 
having been dissolved in September 2004.  The Irish 
Government plans to establish separate airport authorities 
for Cork and Shannon in 2005. 
 
7.  Post recommends consideration of the following 
state-owned companies as additions to the list of covered 
Irish entities: 
 
-- Aer Lingus, the Irish national carrier.  The Irish 
Government, the airline's principal share-holder, recently 
announced that plans to privatize the airline have been put 
on hold indefinitely. 
 
-- An Post, the national postal service.  An Post also 
provides communication, distribution, logistics, and 
financial-related services. 
 
-- Bord Gais Eireann (Irish Gas Board).  The Irish Gas Board 
is Ireland's principal state-owned utility, along with the 
Electricity Supply Board, which is named on the list of 
covered Irish entities. 
 
-- Bord na Mona (Irish Peat Board).  Bord na Mona supplies 
peat, a traditional source of energy in Ireland, and 
peat-based fuels for generation of electricity and heating. 
 
-- Coilllte (Irish Forestry Board).  Coillte is responsible 
for management of state forests and is involved in log 
harvesting, transport, marketing, and sales. 
 
-- Irish Aviation Authority.  The Authority oversees air 
traffic management and air safety regulation for the Irish 
aviation industry. 
 
-- Radio Teilifis Eireann (RTE).  RTE is the Irish Public 
Service Broadcasting Organization, which operates several 
television and radio stations. 
 
-- Railway Procurement Agency.  This agency is responsible 
for the procurement of railway infrastructure and systems 
used by Iamrod Eireann (Irish Rail), which is named on the 
list of covered Irish entities.  The agency also oversees 
Dublin's new light-rail transit system, the Luas. 
 
-- Voluntary Health Insurance Board (VHI).  VHI is the 
largest provider of voluntary private health insurance in 
Ireland. 
 
8.  Post examined the Irish Government's procurement website 
and found that county and city councils featured most 
prominently among government entities that have solicited 
procurement bids.  Economic officer Joe Young 
(youngjm@state.gov) can be contacted for a comprehensive list 
of the councils. 
 
9.  Post has no specific recommendations with respect to 
prioritizing additional services openings. 
BENTON