Procurement and Costs

Under public procurement rules, Requests for Tenders (RFTs) were issued in respect of the selection of goods and service providers for different requirements necessary for both the establishment and continued operation of the Assembly. Where relevant, tenders were published on the Government’s dedicated procurement website, eTenders.

The following requests for tenders were advertised on the eTenders website:

1. Facilitation and Note-taking Services for the Citizens’ Assembly
   • Roomaxx Ltd was selected to provide facilitation and note-taking services for the Assembly.
2. Provision of a representative sample of 99 members of the public and substitutes
   • Amárach Research was appointed  to provide a representative sample of 99 members of the public and substitutes for the Citizen's Assembly after a negotiated procedure.
3. AV recording / live streaming and associated follow up services
   • Pi Comms was selected to  provide the AV recording, live streaming and associated services.
4. Provision of Irish Language Services for the Citizens’ Assembly’s Meetings
   • Beatrice.ie Translation & Tour Guiding Services was selected to provide Irish language services for the Assembly.
5. Media Liaison Services and communication services for the Citizen's Assembly
   • Q4PR was selected to provide media liaison and communication services for the Assembly. 
6. Hotel Conference Requirements
   • The Grand Hotel, Malahide, was selected as the venue for the meetings of the Assembly.

It should be noted that these RFTs were issued on the assumption that the Assembly would meet in person and some of these services did not apply when the Assembly moved online arising from Covid-19.

The transition online did not require additional procurement through e-tenders as no additional goods and services exceeded the e-tender procurement thresholds. Competitive processes were undertaken for other procurement below these thresholds in accordance with public procurement rules.

Assembly Costs

Provided below is a breakdown of costs involved in establishing and running the Assembly meetings from the formation of the Assembly in July 2019 to date.

*Salary and office administration costs for the Assembly were met on an ongoing basis and are not included in the costs below.

Breakdown of costs for the Citizens' Assembly