LAST UPDATE | 28 Apr 2022

THE GOVERNMENT HAS had to “short circuit” the traditional procurement processes used to award State contracts when it came to organising catering for Ukrainian refugees, according to Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman.

“We’re dealing with a crisis, we’re dealing with a crisis that the country has never had to experience before, and we’re dealing with it in a way that ensures that every Ukrainian who comes to this country who seeks shelter who seeks security can be given it and that has meant we haven’t been able to use the traditional procurement processes,” he said. 

The minister was responding to People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett, who told the Dáil that he had been informed that Aramark, an American corporation, has been awarded the Government contract for supplying catering to refugee hubs for those arriving from Ukraine. 

Aramark has operated three Direct Provision centres for the State in Cork, Clare and Westmeath and has commercial interests in the US prison system.

Scandelous! Roderic O'Gorman just admited that US mulitnationl Aramark were given contract for all catering to Ukrainian refugees without any open tendering!

Terrible record in direct provision, Us prisons, and treament of workers.

more of the golden circle! pic.twitter.com/hH1MNK1rE7

— Richard Boyd Barrett (@RBoydBarrett) April 28, 2022

Earlier this year, the staff at the National Gallery of Ireland expressed “deep distress” over management awarding catering services to Aramark.

According to tender documents, the contract agreed by Aramark with the gallery is worth up to €7,500,000 (excluding VAT) over its lifetime and any extensions.

The worth of the catering contract for Ukrainian refugees was not stated in the Dáil today.

“We’ve had to short circuit processes in order to ensure that people get fed, in order to ensure that people get shelter, and if we didn’t do that, and if we had long delays, I have no doubt deputy you and others would be raising and condemning the Government and you would be right.

“We’ve had to move quickly. We have moved quickly. And that’s why 16,000 people are being sheltered and are being fed,” said the minister. 

Following today’s revelations, the Public Accounts Committee has agreed to request full details of the awarding of the contract from Department of Children as well as a report on the process from the Department of Public Expenditure.

Officials from the Department of Children are due to appear before the committee in the coming weeks, where it is understood they will be questioned on the matter.

‘Disgusted’

Boyd Barrett said he had been contacted by a local catering company in his constituency who are “pretty disgusted” that the contract was awarded without a proper procurement process. 

The Dun Laoghaire TD told the Dáil that the company has been “very controversial” and has been “criticised for their poor quality of their catering in US prisons” and for “the poor quality of some of the catering they provide for people in the Direct Provision”.

He told the minister that there has been protests by artists and staff of the National Gallery against the company getting the gallery contract.

Speaking to The Journal, Boyd Barrett said that he understood the need for speed in ensuring proper facilities are up and running for the thousands of refugees arriving in Ireland, but added:

“I just think it’s utterly disgraceful that a big US multinational corporation is just handed this contract when caterers here in Ireland are not even given the opportunity.”

He said there should be an open process and a “level playing field” to ensure we get the best quality. 

He questioned why there is a presumption that a big US multinational is going to be better able to do supply catering than local caterers who might well produce it just as quickly.

A statement from Aramark to The Journal said:

“We are among a large number of companies who have been approached by the State’s International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) to respond to the emergency situation arising from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

“Having been approached by IPAS, we were, within 24 hours, able to deploy food and catering services to the people in the Ukrainian refugee accommodation service operated by the State.

“To clarify, we are currently providing food services to one centre. We are proud to be able to deploy our significant capabilities at such short notice during this unprecedented period.

“We have the capacity to deliver large quantities of food and catering services at short notice and we will continue to assist the Irish Government in this national response.”

Aramark said it operates to the highest international food quality standards.