Sinn Féin has published a Private Members’ Bill calling for the mandatory employment of the long-term unemployed and apprentices in State contracts.

In the Dáil yesterday, Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said the inclusion of social clauses enabled governments to use public procurement contracts as a multitasking instrument of policy.

“Merely using public contracts to obtain goods and services is now an outdated approach,” she added.

“The inclusion of social clauses in public contracts requires public purchasers and suppliers also to protect the vulnerable, support the disadvantaged, develop the social economy, protect the environment, and promote other social goals and community benefits during the course of the project as a condition of the contractual award.”

Ms McDonald said the State spent some €9 billion each year on goods and services. While social clauses had been included in a small number of public contracts, they were not currently legislated for, nor were they mandatory.

€1m contracts

Introducing the Social Clauses in Public Procurement Bill, Ms McDonald said its provisions would apply to all contracts valued in excess of €1 million tendered by all public authorities.

While retaining all current employees, a contractor would be required to hire one long- term unemployed person per €1 million value of the contract. One apprentice must be hired per €2 million value of the contract.

The opportunity to develop work-related skills and, where necessary, training programmes, would also be provided for, she said.

Ms McDonald said the Sinn Féin Bill also allowed for “any other social clause which the minister or public authority sees fit to be included in the contract”. Such clauses, she added, would have to comply with EU rules.

Minister of State for Public Expenditure and Reform Simon Harris said that, while the Government was not opposing the Bill, further debate and discussion was required on the correct policy approach to enabling social clauses.

It was a complex area, Mr Harris said. He pointed out that public procurement was governed by EU rules, national legislation and World Trade Organisation agreements.