Results 3,481-3,500 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles Bill 2014: Report Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 39:In page 105, to delete lines 32 to 34.

Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles Bill 2014: Report Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 40:In page 106, after line 38, to insert the following:“Director of Corporate Enforcement 178. Sections 953, 956 and 957 of the Companies Act 2014 have effect as if references to that Act included this Act.”.Amendment No. 40 inserts a new section 178, which cross-supplies sections 953, 956 and 957 of the Companies Act 2014. Section 953 concerns liability...

Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles Bill 2014: Report Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies, particularly Deputy McGrath and Deputy Doherty, for their constructive engagement on this Bill. I thank my officials also who put a great deal of work into what is as we discussed on many occasions a largely technical but very important piece of legislation. It is important in terms of this country's competitiveness and trying to attract international financial investment...

Irish Collective Asset-management Vehicles Bill 2014: Report Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I genuinely cannot assist the Deputy in that but I will endeavour to find out and revert to him.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the management of a significant proportion of State owned property assets, including Heritage estate and certain prestige properties, in all parts of the country.For the purposes of this Question however, the type of properties covered in the response requires to be defined: by including the term "Heritage buildings" in his Question, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: The problem of flood risk 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 is to: - assess and map the existing and potential...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Bank Charges (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. He is right in saying it is timely given that at this time of year people tend to review their finances and look at ways of reducing costs and saving money. I will address the issue of advertising and provision of information first. The Central Bank's consumer protection code of 2012 provides that a regulated entity must provide the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Bank Charges (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. It is also important to acknowledge that the Government is in the business of getting out of banking ownership. We are in the business of returning banks to the private sector over a sustained period of time and getting back as much money as we possibly can, much of which was pumped into the banks by the last Government and some by this...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organised Crime (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Heffernan for raising this Commencement matter. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality who sends her apologies that she is not able to be present here today due to other business. The Minister has asked me to thank the Senator for raising this very important issue. The Senator has raised issues concerning cross-Border co-operation between our own...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organised Crime (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator again and reiterate my comment that I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to revert to him on the cross-Border element, which she will be able to discuss with him in more detail than I can. I restate the Government's ongoing and steadfast commitment to tackling organised crime. While the challenges posed by organised crime are clear, we are continuing to see...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Organised Crime (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: The final point I would make on providing the members of the Garda Síochána with the physical infrastructure to go about their jobs is that the Government has recommenced recruitment of members of the Garda in Templemore. This development is welcome on all sides of the House, I am sure. In the most recent budget we made provision for more Garda cars. In the period 2012-15 the...

Leaders' Questions (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: He does not have that function.

Leaders' Questions (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: That was a long minute.

Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Order for Second Stage (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Bill before the House today was debated in the Seanad last week. That debate was very constructive and there was cross-party support and acknowledgement that the Government was bringing forward this Bill solely for the purpose of facilitating the work of the banking inquiry. In that respect, Deputies will have seen the very positive...

Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies on all sides for their contributions today. This is a short Bill but we are all agreed that it is an important one. The joint committee of inquiry has identified these amendments as being necessary to enable it to do its work. It is important for all sides of this House to respond to that in a timely manner, as Deputy O'Brien said. When a request is made to enable an...

Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: There is one issue that I did not have an opportunity to deal with which replying to Second Stage, that of sanctions. It is not the role of the Department of Finance or any other Government Department to interfere with the operations of this House. In that context, it is the responsibility of both Houses of the Oireachtas to decide their own Standing Orders. However, the Bill places an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together. The Commissioners of Public Works own the premises off Eyre Street in Newbridge from which the Social Protection services are currently delivered. When the Department of Social Protection relocate to their new premises in Newbridge, the Eyre Street property will be refurbished and allocated to another State service.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Conway for raising this matter. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Finance who regrets that he is unable to be present due to other business. The Minister very much appreciates the importance of the issue the Senator raises. As a tax concession, the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme falls within the remit of the Department of Finance. I will first...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: Senator Conway is correct. As we enter a period of economic recovery and as that recovery takes hold, even though it is still fragile, it is appropriate that we begin a debate about what one does with economic recovery, and I welcome the fact that the Senator has raised the issue. However, this is a matter that the Department of Finance keeps under constant review but the Senator will...