The conference, themed ‘From Reform to Delivery’, will bring together procurement professionals, senior public servants, legal experts and public-service leaders to examine how current national and European reforms can be translated into better procurement decisions and stronger public outcomes.

The programme will follow three connected pillars:

• Set the Direction
• Design for Delivery
• Decide with Confidence

Mr Feighan’s keynote, ‘Procuring for Our Future: Turning Ireland’s National Procurement Strategy into Better Public Services’, will consider the Government’s ambitions for implementing Ireland’s first National Public Procurement Strategy 2026–2030 and the role of strategic, innovative and sustainable procurement in supporting SMEs, competition, value for money and better public services.

Mr Feighan, said: “Public procurement has an essential role in turning government policy and public investment into services and infrastructure that make a tangible difference to people’s lives. Ireland’s first National Public Procurement Strategy provides a clear direction for making procurement more strategic, innovative, sustainable and accessible, while maintaining transparency, accountability and value for money.

“I welcome the opportunity to address the PAI Strategic Public Procurement Conference and to engage with the professionals whose expertise and judgement will be central to moving from reform to effective delivery.”

Emma McBride, executive director of Public Affairs Ireland, said: “We are delighted that Minister Feighan will open this year’s conference. Last year, our discussions focused on digital, strategic and circular procurement. This year, we are moving that conversation forward by asking how reform can be translated into better design, confident decision-making and improved public-service outcomes.

“The conference has been designed as a connected learning journey, from setting the strategic direction, through designing procurement for impact, to exercising proportionate judgement around risk and accountability.”

The conference will also examine the proposed reform of the EU public procurement framework, Ireland’s role in the European negotiations, early market engagement, sustainable and whole-life value, intelligent procurement, and the relationship between risk, professional judgement and accountability.

Event details

PAI Strategic Public Procurement Conference 2026

Theme: From Reform to Delivery

Date: Wednesday 11 November 2026

Time: 9.30am–1.30pm

Venue: Guinness Storehouse, Dublin