Two-thirds of small and medium-sized Irish firms feel the public procurement process favours large multinationals, yet just 27 per cent of firms who tendered unsuccessfully tried to find out why using the Freedom of Information act.

The need for public procurement to be improved “on all sides” was highlighted in the survey conducted by SDL Exhibitions in advance of the two-day Public Procurement Exhibition and Conference which starts at the CityWest Conference Centre in Dublin today.

Despite cuts in spending €750 million of the €15 billion spent by Government departments last year went to overseas firms which the organisers say represents “a huge loss to Irish business”.