Printing firm in ballot paper row

The printing of ballot papers for some constituencies in the next election could be jeopardised if a dispute between the Office of Public Works and a printing firm is not resolved.

Brothers Jean and Pierce Maher, directors of IDFA Quality Printers Ltd, are in dispute with the OPW over payment for work done by the company in 2004 and 2005 for the European elections and a byelection.

The company has been offered the contract to print the ballot papers and polling station posters for 15 constituencies in the next election, with the remaining 28 divided between six other printers.

However, the firm has told The Irish Times it is not happy to accept the contract because it was not paid for polling station posters printed for the European election of 2004 and for ballot papers and posters printed for the Kildare North byelection in 2005.

The dispute centres on the amount invoiced by the company for both jobs. A lower offer was made by the OPW in November 2005 for the work and, on February 9th this year, a second offer was made, but the company has called for the invoiced amount plus interest to be paid, under the terms of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997.

The firm has supplied ballot papers and posters to the OPW for the past 15 years.

Correspondence between both sides on the issue has been seen by The Irish Times.

The brothers claim the OPW will have difficulty finding an alternative printer in time for the election if it is to go ahead before the end of May.

Jean Maher said the date of the election could be adversely influenced by their difficulties with the OPW. "The window for finding printers is getting narrower. They will have a big headache finding alternative printers," he said.

Pierce Maher said it was nothing to do with the money at this stage but was about principle. "We did good work - we have to take a stand," he said.

The OPW said yesterday it adjudged two invoices from the IDFA to be above market rates and a dispute arose as to what was a fair price.

It added: "Should IDFA not take up their contract, OPW are satisfied that alternative arrangements can be put in place that will ensure that the election can go ahead at a date decided by Government."