Minister of State O’Donovan, who has special responsibility for public procurement, said: ‘The circular sends an important signal of the Government’s commitment to opening public procurement up to environmental and social considerations. A wide range of policy areas come under the heading of social considerations including, for example, environmental sustainability, disability access, training for young or disadvantaged people, social enterprises and increasing access for SMEs and start-ups. The structure for progressing these considerations is the Social Considerations Advisory Group, a cross-Government initiative established earlier this year. This group brings together officials from across Government and is considering what and how social policy objectives can be advanced appropriately and effectively through public procurement’.