The two main new EU Procurement Directives 2014 have now been transposed into Irish law. The Regulations are deemed to have come into operation on 18 April 2016 and apply to procurements commenced after that date.
The changes made by European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016 and European Union (Award of Contracts by Utility Undertakings) Regulations 2016 represent an evolution as opposed to a revolution in EU procurement. One the primary aims of the new regulations is to streamline and increase efficiency in procurement – only time will tell how fully this is realised.
