Results 2,401-2,420 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: The Comptroller and Auditor General referred to the recommendation that the Department should review its project risk assessment procedures. Can Mr. Purcell update us on that?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: I would like to move on to the Justice Vote. There is a note in the accounts - note 5.2 - on 13 retired civil servants rehired at a cost of €105,298. For what were they rehired?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: Does Mr. Purcell think it was necessary to rehire retired civil servants for those roles?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: That is reassuring. Six former members of the Judiciary were hired at a cost of €404,451. Will Mr. Purcell give us a breakdown of the six former Judiciary members?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: In the accounts, a saving of €113,000 was achieved on the disability awareness initiative. This concerns me because when it comes to the area of disability, Mr. Purcell's Department has quite an important role in terms of public awareness of, understanding of and education about the equality agenda. The budget had already been slashed from €865,000 to €307,000 between...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: Does Mr. Purcell see my point that even though the budget for disability was so sharply reduced, which was regrettable, the full amount was not spent? People with disabilities depending on such disabilities awareness initiatives did not get the full bang for their buck which they should have got. It is a concern of mine, which I have noted.

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: Has the Department appointed a replacement deputy State pathologist?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: We seem to have a pretty restrictive asylum regime with 10% of applicants granted permission in 2012 compared with a European average of 27%. The former Irish Ombudsman and now the European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, raised concerns about the safety of children living in direct provision, and she noted the very unsuitable conditions in which they were living. Considering direct provision...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: I accept that and I welcome Mr. Purcell's comments in that regard but the original idea was that this would be a short-term solution with people staying six months on average. We now have an average stay of three years and eight months with many spending more than seven years in the system, which is the equivalent of a childhood. In the meantime, we, as taxpayers, paid €62 million in...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: I welcome the progress the Department is making on the charity regulatory structures and I note Mr. Purcell's comments earlier. I hope he can allay my concerns. The committee opened a can of worms that needed to be opened in our examination of a number of sections 38 and 39 charitable organisations, although many charities do not fall under these sections. Will the new structure be able to...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 24 - Justice and Equality
Chapter 9 - State Pathology Building Project (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: Are we still on track to have the board appointed after Easter?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): European Council Meetings (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: 14. To ask the Taoiseach if discussions have taken place at a European Council level on addressing the problem of youth unemployment across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2193/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: 284. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a funding stream exists within his Department for the provision of gym equipment for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12904/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: 684. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if good advice-education and grant schemes will be provided to help families install water conserving features in their houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13401/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Regulations (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: 685. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the introduction of a ban on smoky coal; the parts of the country that are not covered by such a ban; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13435/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Policy (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: 686. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the way the smokeless fuel policy is policed by local authorities; the resources local authorities have to ensure such a scheme is policed; the number of persons that have received fines or warnings in relation to smoky coal from 2012 to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13440/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Vehicle Clamping (26 Mar 2014)

Simon Harris: 227. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to regulate the clamping industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14255/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (1 Apr 2014)

Simon Harris: 202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an ASD facility will be supplied in a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14938/14]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Disability Allowance Applications Waiting Times (1 Apr 2014)

Simon Harris: 279. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of disability allowance applications waiting to be processed by her Department; the average length of time it takes to process new disability allowance applications and reviews of additional medical evidence; her views on whether this length of time is fair and equitable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15025/14]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (3 Apr 2014)

Simon Harris: There is some role for us to try to get to the bottom of the expenditure of taxpayers' money - the timing of it. I share the view of the Comptroller and Auditor General in terms of how we go about it, or I would be guided by views on that. We would also need to extend the request to the Prison Service as well, which possibly since Deputy Ross has written his request has also come to light....