Results 45,321-45,340 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: That was a very enlightening answer which we probably needed to hear because I had never before heard of our banks being so ill-equipped in terms of knowledge to deal with an export economy. It is very helpful to have that acknowledged here. Is the situation in our banks improving? Mr. O'Donnellan has been dealing with them since 2008. How does he find the situation now? If he does not...

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: One of the biggest problems about which we all hear and know is that of accessing credit for companies that want to export or just establish here. I know that Enterprise Ireland has undertaken some work in this area. The Sunday Business Post reported that Enterprise Ireland was in talks with banks about developing a new credit line specifically for technology and export companies. How...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: I am delighted to hear that. The then Chinese Vice President visited last year and there were a number of reciprocal visits by our Ministers to China. Has anything tangible happened since those visits in the context of exports? I am pleased EI is proactive in co-locating with our embassies in the first instance. How do EI offices interact on a daily basis with our diplomatic missions in...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: Our exports grew by 5% in 2012, which was approximately twice the world average. Clearly, we are doing well on that front but we need to have an honest discussion about what needs to be done going forward. What are the main challenges facing Ireland's cost base as an exporting country? Has EI identified skills or capacity gaps in the context of exporting? If so, what needs to be done to...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: I thank Mr. Ryan and his colleagues for attending this meeting. I thank the staff of Enterprise Ireland for the tremendous work they have done over the past several years as we attempt to rebuild and recreate our economy. The statistics and information contained in the annual report and accounts for 2011 make it clear that the economy is being repositioned from people selling houses and...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: That is a useful clarification. The Action Plan for Jobs has played an important role in keeping State agencies focused on creating jobs. Enterprise Ireland is responsible for approximately 100 of the 270 actions in the plan, which is a significant proportion. How many of the 100 actions have been ticked off as done and what were the most important ones this year? One can only imagine the...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: The annual report refers to Enterprise Ireland's 29 international offices. A lot of the bodies that come before this committee, including the IDA and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, have international offices. The Chairman previously made the valid point that there is clearly a need for a more integrated approach. Can we have Irish offices that carry out multiple functions...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: I am pleased with the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, and her attempts to get back this money and send out a clear message to the effect that when we ring fence €35 million it should be spent on mental health services. There was cross-party support on this issue. This reforming Bill is an important step towards the roll out of free general practitioner care. I...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: With this Bill, we take another firm step towards abolishing the HSE, on the basis of which the Government campaigned in the last general election. However, we cannot do the populist thing of abolishing the HSE in the morning and leaving a vacuum. The untangling of the bureaucratic mess that is the HSE must be done in stages, in a logical manner and over time. This is exactly what the...

Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: I am delighted to have an opportunity to raise with the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, the need to plan for the provision of more primary school places in the Greystones, Kilcoole and Delgany areas. The population of the town of Greystones has increased significantly in recent years. According to the CSO, the most recent census found that more than 10,000 people lived in the...

Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response which will provide a great deal of detail and clarity for many parents in the Greystones, Kilcoole and Delgany areas. I particularly welcome the progress being made with regard to the Greystones Educate Together school and the additional classroom space that will be made available to Gaelscoil na Clocha Liatha. I ask the Minister...

Leaders' Questions (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: Deputy Adams was let down.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a child in sixth class who cannot access a secondary school place in their locality; the advice he will give to parents of such a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3874/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the level of overpayments recorded by her Department in social welfare payments in each of the years 2007 to 2012 inclusive in tabular form; if she will provide a breakdown of these overpayments by individual social welfare scheme; the process in place to prevent such over payment; the reasons overpayments occur; and if she will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the national broadband roll-out programme; the date on which an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow is likely to be covered by the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4355/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Act (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to review the 2004 Tenancy Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3982/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the 2013 funding will be allocated to Wicklow County Council; the total amount of this funding; if he will provide a breakdown of the way this funding will be allocated between the county council and town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4332/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has expanded the role of the Private Security Authority to cover the issuing of licences for businesses working in the area of CCTV, security gates and so on; if he has given consideration to the implementation costs to businesses; if he is confident that the Private Security Authority has adequate knowledge of this industry; if he is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no speech and language support available in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow due to maternity leave and sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3760/13]