The Irish Software Association has claimed that a survey shows that small and medium-sized Irish software firms are 'effectively ruled out' of taking part in the Irish public procurement process.
Details of the survey are being presented at the ISA's annual conference in UCD today. Half of the software companies surveyed cited the cost of tendering for such work as a deterrent.
ISA director Shane Dempsey called on the Government to remove any measures that unnecessarily act against SMEs.
'In most cases tender requirements are rigidly defined, removing any possibility for offering innovative solutions outside of the definitions,' he said.
The ISA says the Irish public procurement market accounts for €9 billion a year and has the potential to be a springboard for SMEs to access international markets.
