Citizens Advice is contesting a recent procurement decision by DETI in respect of the provision of debt advice to the public.

Following a court hearing on Tuesday 20th October, Citizens Advice is now awaiting the judge's decision on discovery of documents. In the absence of an appeal mechanism in the procurement process, Citizens Advice has challenged the outcome of the procurement process and raised a range of issues including charity law and data protection.

Counsel for DETI indicated to the court that DETI had a third stage to the procurement process - a governance review which it proposed to undertake on matters of governance and data protection to "make sure the wool has not been pulled over the Department's eyes."