Results 3,301-3,320 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: As Deputy McGrath said, we had a very lengthy exchange on this on Committee Stage. We also heard exchanges on corporation tax in general on a number of occasions on Committee Stage. Those in this House who advocate increasing corporation tax — I am not referring to those from Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin or the Government — would want to do a bit of reading and interacting...

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I have said all I have to say and we are not going to have a meeting of minds on this.

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 32:In page 71, to delete lines 35 to 38 and substitute the following:“ “(3A) (a) In this subsection ‘relevant treatment of a gain’ means the treatment, provided by this section or section 626C, of a gain as not being a chargeable gain. (b) Notwithstanding any provision of section 590, the relevant treatment of a gain shall not apply for the...

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his amendments, which, as he outlined, propose changes to the levels of fine applying to mineral oil tax offences under section 102 of Finance Act 1999. The fines applicable for an offence of evasion, or attempted evasion of excise duty on excisable products were increased significantly in Finance Acts 2008 and 2010. For a summary conviction, the fine was increased to...

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The debate has moved on considerably from the amendment tabled by Deputy McGrath and that is understandable and perfectly acceptable given the seriousness of the issue. I will not have all the answers to hand on some of the wider issues outside of the Finance Bill but I have discussed this with my officials and I will ensure that we revert to each of the Deputies on the issues they raised. ...

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I am happy to use my office to try to have the Deputies who have consistently raised this matter updated by the relevant authorities in terms of where we are at in relation to Revenue, Customs and Excise, the State Laboratory and so on. I am happy to try to facilitate a round-table discussion with Oireachtas Members who have raised this concern. I think that would be a practical and...

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Donnelly for his amendment and for the engagement on this issue. As the Deputy outlined, in last year's budget and in the subsequent Finance Act, the Minister introduced an additional levy of 0.15% on pension fund assets for 2014 and 2015. He did this, in the main, to continue to help fund the jobs initiative, launched in 2011. The measures included, in particular, the VAT...

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that it is the Minister's intention to do as he outlined in his Budget Statement in regard to the pension levy. It was a difficult levy for many and it is important to note the context in which these decisions were taken. It was a time when there was very little flexibility available to Government, which was in an international programme. Any limited flexibility...

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Members for their wide-ranging contributions on this issue and on these amendments. This has been useful and I will endeavour to respond to as many of the queries raised as possible. At the outset, it is important to state this is not a new tax and the idea is not to introduce an expansionary tax. The idea is to address a reality on which the Government has been advised by Revenue....

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Correct.

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: If the two parents of the bride and two parents of the groom gave money, it would amount to €12,000.

Finance Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: If we accepted the amendments, legislatively the status quowould remain in place. The Government is introducing legislation in this area on the basis of advice from the Revenue Commissioners to try to crack down on abuses of an exemption that was never intended to be applied as it has been applied. I fully accept that no Member of this House wishes for a continuation of this kind of...

Human Rights Budgeting: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (26 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan must find it a little surreal to be having praise heaped on her tonight, and justifiably so, from every side of the House. It is very well deserved. She is respected on all sides of this House as an individual who is extremely sincere in her commitment. I echo Deputy Clare Daly's comments on Deputy O'Sullivan's human rights record and I have seen some of that with...

Seanad: Flood Management: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Thank you, Acting Chairman. I am extremely grateful to the Leader of the Seanad for making time available for me to address the House on matters relating to flooding and flood risk management. It is a timely opportunity for this debate as there have been a number of policy developments in this area. As a country, we are still continuing to spend a significant sum of money on flooding...

Seanad: Flood Management: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: In addition to its capital works programme, the OPW will continue to implement its programme of maintenance of arterial drainage schemes, entailing average annual expenditure of €17 million and maintenance of approximately 2,200 km of drainage channels annually. Perhaps I will return to the rest of my script at the conclusion of the debate. I very much look forward to the interaction...

Seanad: Flood Management: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Is the Senator referring to Claregalway?

Seanad: Flood Management: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I have a lot to get through and I want to deal with it all. I thank Senators for their constructive contributions on this important topic. I have listened carefully to the contributions and it is clear that flooding is a problem that is at the forefront of the concerns affecting many communities throughout this country. Many issues and some specific local problems were mentioned during the...

Seanad: Flood Management: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Regarding the islands, Kerry County Council needs to assess the problem and see if there is a viable solution. If it does, it is welcome to submit a minor works application which would then be assessed by the Office of Public Works, OPW, to see if there were cost-benefit elements to it. I have seen the devastation experienced by businesses caused by flooding. In the case of Nutgrove Avenue,...

Seanad: Flood Management: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: No, I would imagine there was not. If the local authority can devise solutions, it can then apply for funding for them under the minor flood works mitigation scheme. The OPW can provide a funding mechanism of up to €500,000 under the scheme.

Seanad: Flood Management: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Yes, they are very efficient. I will look into the points Senator Byrne raised about the arterial river in Drumconrath, County Meath, which is known as the River Neagh, as confirmed by the Acting Chairman. The Claregalway relief works are a major scheme and priority for my office. We have had many representations on it and are eager to progress it. Its EIS, environmental impact statement,...