Results 4,261-4,280 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (12 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senators for their contributions and constructive engagement with this Bill. I look forward to a more detailed consideration of the provisions on Committee Stage and will revert directly to Members on some of the detailed questions posed during the Second Stage debate. This Bill is designed principally to facilitate the implementation of the EU financial services agenda. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 225, inclusive, together. Kilmainham Gaol is a National Monument site in the care of the Office of Public Works and is, with almost 330,000 visitors last year, one of the most popular and heavily-visited tourist sites in Ireland. The OPW's role at Kilmainham is to maintain and conserve the site as a National Monument. This is a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The total funding allocation, current and capital, for the Office of Public Works (OPW) overall Flood Risk Management Programme in 2015 is €87.815m. This includes provision for expenditure on capital flood relief works, on arterial drainage maintenance activities, the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, purchase of plant and machinery, hydrometric and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I am advise that the Commissioners of Public Works have no record of receiving an application from South Dublin County Council seeking a waiver of a parcel of land at Knockmitten Park, Clondalkin arising from the dissolution of Western Investments Ltd.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I am advised that this appears to be a matter related to the flooding of a road, and therefore may not be appropriate for the Office of Public Works (OPW). It may be a matter for Galway County Council to address as part of its ongoing road maintenance and improvement programme or the Department of Transport as appropriate. Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for Local...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The Commissioners of Public Works manage a large and diverse property portfolio including the property known as Durrow Abbey House. Durrow Abbey House is leased to the Arts for Peace Foundation (AFP) charity on a 99 year lease which includes an obligation on the tenant to insure and keep the house in good repair. A notice issued to the lessee under clause 2.13 of the lease giving notice that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Projects (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 to 241, inclusive, together. I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that a notice inviting applications to operate a bicycle-hire concession in the Phoenix Park, with a detailed specification of requirements, was placed on the E-Tenders website portal on the 1st April 2015. Two applicants applied. The listed criteria in the...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: Far from annoying me, I always enjoy Senator Barrett's view and very much accept his sincerity on all of these matters. We had a chance to speak about this, and I believe the Senator will understand that regardless of my views or his, I am not in a position to accept the amendment, as Part 2 does not provide for the bank recovery and resolution measures available to Ireland. Its purpose is...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I pay tribute to the Senator's attention to detail, but we have consulted the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on this point and it has indicated that while it can appreciate, as can I, where the Senator is coming from with his proposed amendment, its view is that it matters little in practice because it is difficult to see how whichever word we use, be it "stand" or "stands ", can be...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The Senator is quite right to raise this matter, and I am happy to provide clarity on it. Under section 8 of the Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Act 2009 as it stands, the period for repaying the Central Bank for a short-term advance it has provided is three months. We have consulted the European Central Bank on the matter and I can inform the House it is satisfied that two...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Barrett. On Second Stage we had an opportunity to discuss the issues relating to Setanta and the importance of ensuring we have enhanced monitoring through the market intelligence on freedom of services firms in the Central Bank. I was pleased to be able to assure the House that since the issues arose with Setanta, the Central Bank has enhanced its market intelligence on...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I do not propose to accept this amendment on the grounds that it is not intended to revisit the operation of the NTMA or the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund at this time. These will continue to operate in the manner prescribed in the NTMA (Amendment) Act. This section of the Bill operates as a technical amendment and does not change the effect or the operation of section 37(a) of the NTMA...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: Not yet. The Minister for Finance intends to bring forward an amendment on Report Stage to provide for an increased deduction for certain landlords when calculating rental profits. The deduction will increase from 75% to 100% in respect of interest paid on qualifying loans for landlords who commit to providing rental properties to social housing tenants for a minimum period of three years.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 43:In page 43, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:“ ‘Member State’ has the same meaning as ‘relevant Member State’ has in section 766;”. Most of these amendments are technical in nature with the purpose of correcting minor drafting errors and ensuring the legislation that implements the knowledge development box, KDB,...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 44:In page 44, line 5, to delete “section 105” and substitute “section 106”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 45:In page 44, line 6, after “criteria,” to insert “in that the invention is susceptible of industrial application, new and involves an inventive step,”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 46:In page 44, lines 21 and 22, to delete “on the qualifying asset, in relation to a company,” and substitute “in relation to the qualifying asset, in respect of a company,”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 47:In page 44, line 31, to delete “intangible”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 48:In page 46, line 33, after “asset” to insert “before taking account of any allowance available under subsection (5)”.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 49:In page 46, line 40, to delete “12 months” and substitute “24 months”.