Results 2,581-2,600 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (16 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: As part of its responsibilities for the care and maintenance of a significant element of the State's heritage property portfolio, the Commissioner of Public Works manage approximately 780 National Monument and Historic Property sites around the country. These properties include many iconic locations such as the Rock of Cashel or Newgrange which are known both nationally and internationally...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for bringing forward his amendments. On the first amendment, I appreciate that he is concerned to ensure members of the agency are well qualified and suitable for appointment. I assure him the Minister for Finance shares that concern. It is because we share that concern that we have included a detailed list setting out relevant areas in which potential appointees must...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: Like Senator Aideen Hayden, I understand from where Senator Sean D. Barrett is coming on this issue. He has been championing the cause of the need for reform of how we do business in this country and how the public services operate. The point made by Senator Aideen Hayden is one I wish to reiterate in the first days in my new position. I have just come from the OPW's head office in Trim...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Reilly for her amendment. In response I would point out that it is important to note that NewERA does not have any executive functions in its own right. It is being established in an advisory capacity as a source of dedicated, corporate finance expertise which will be available to relevant Ministers. The Minister can request NewERA to provide project management services or...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Barrett for his amendments. I think it is actually quite a big jump to add in expenditure under the public capital programme and I will outline the reasons for saying that. NewERA has been set up to provide financial and commercial advice to shareholding Ministers on designated bodies and also, at the request of other relevant Ministers, advice in relation to other State...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: Section 26 of the Bill replicates the provision of the Acts under which the NDFA operates. It is important to say that we are not seeking to assign any new functions to the NDFA; we are seeking simply to transfer the NDFA's functions to the NTMA. Section 26 (c) provides that the NDFA may enter into PPPs on behalf of a State authority and transfer the rights and obligations under the...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Barrett for his amendment. As a member of the Committee of Public Accounts from my election to the Dáil three years ago until two days ago, I was very interested in these amendments, as I have seen at first hand what I believe to be the excellent work that the committee can do collectively and on a cross-party basis. During my time on the committee - I believe this is...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for her amendment which I cannot accept, the reasons for which I will outline. I simply do not believe it would work. The assets of the National Pensions Reserve Fund will be transferred to the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and they will then be invested in Ireland in a manner designed to support economic activity and employment. However, it is clearly not practical...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: I understand where the Senator is coming from. While there is no requirement to publish directions to make certain investments, under section 42 directions made will be public knowledge by virtue of the fact that they will be detailed in the NTMA's annual report. Section 49 of the Bill provides that the NTMA will provide a detailed list of the assets of the fund in its report at the end of...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: The National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000, which set up the NPRF to pre-fund the burden of pensions on the Exchequer from 2025, was amended in 2009 to allow the Minister for Finance in certain circumstances to direct the NPRF commission to invest in financial institutions. This was the mechanism used to recapitalise the banks following the financial crisis. I acknowledge why the Senator...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for his amendment and for our exchange this afternoon. The section amends the State Authorities (Public Private Partnerships Arrangements) Act 2002 by adding a section that will allow Ministers to issue guarantees or indemnities in respect of PPP projects, with the consent of the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. Such indemnities or guarantees have...

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: It is limited by the obligations of the sub-sovereign entity.

Seanad: National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (17 Jul 2014)

Simon Harris: It depends on the size of the project and the contract.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Harris: It is a matter for Kerry County Council, in the first instance, to investigate and address flooding issues in the County. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has no assets in Ballylongford and, therefore, has no direct responsibility in maintaining or improving existing flood defences. However, Ballylongford was identified through the national Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment as an area where...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Minor Works Scheme Applications (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Harris: In February of this year, the Government decided, based on submissions and estimates provided by local authorities and other agencies to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, to make available a sum of up to €70 million for a programme of repair and remediation works in respect of damage caused by the winter storms. Laois County Council was not allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Harris: In 2010 Mayo County Council submitted an application for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for works to prevent water infiltration through the river walls on the left bank of the River Moy at the location referred to. The application was not approved as it is OPW's view that other factors may be contributing to flooding at this location. The...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Harris: The matter raised by the Deputy is of the utmost importance and the problem of flooding in Ireland is being addressed through the Office of Public Work's Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. This is a major national programme under which the most comprehensive assessment of flood risk in the country to date is being undertaken. The purpose of the CFRAM Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Data (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Harris: Repair works to 15m of collapsed sea wall at Strand Road, Sutton were included in the programme of works Fingal County Council submitted to the Office of Public Works on foot of the Government Decision of 11 February that allocated funding for repairs of coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure damaged in the period 13th December to 6th January. The Council has indicated that these...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Harris: It is a matter for Kerry County Council, in the first instance, to investigate and address flooding issues in the County. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has no assets in Ballylongford and, therefore, has no direct responsibility in maintaining or improving existing flood defences. However, Ballylongford was identified through the national Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment as an area where...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Harris: Mountrath was identified through the national Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) as a location where flood risk was potentially significant. It is therefore designated as an Area for Further Assessment (AFA) and a detailed assessment is being carried out under the South Eastern Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study. The Office of Public Works is currently...