WTO GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT: IRELAND

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