The European Court of Justice has dismissed an action by the European Commission against Ireland over Dublin City Council's provision of ambulance services.
The commission had said that the provision of the ambulance services in Dublin was a public contract, covered by EU public procurement rules, and that there should have been an open call for tender.
But the court found the commission had failed to show that there was, in fact, an award of a public contract for the provision of ambulance services. The court said that it is entirely possible that Dublin City Council was providing the service on the basis of its powers granted under statute.