Results 4,501-4,520 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (16 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The specific areas mentioned by the Deputy are within the Drainage District of Cavan County Council. Drainage Districts are areas where drainage schemes to improve land for agricultural purposes were constructed prior to the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The statutory duty of maintenance for these schemes lies with the Local Authorities concerned. The Office of Public Works (OPW) carries out...

Seanad: Finance (Tax Appeals) Bill 2015: Second Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The purpose of this Bill is to provide for reforms of the role, functions and structure of the Office of the Appeal Commissioner and the tax appeals system. The overall objective is to ensure an enhanced and cost-effective appeal mechanism for tax cases, while providing transparency and increased certainty for taxpayers. The Appeal Commissioners are responsible for carrying out the...

Seanad: Finance (Tax Appeals) Bill 2015: Second Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I sincerely thank the Senators who contributed to this debate and, indeed, for the broad welcome that all Senators have given to this reforming legislation. The reform of the tax appeal system will bring positive reform of the role, the functions and the structure of the Office of the Appeals Commissioner and of the tax appeals system. It will serve a dual function: first, in providing...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to present the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015 to the House. The Bill passed all stages in the Dáil last Friday. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission came into existence on 1 January 2004 under the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003. The founding of the commission through legislation passed in 2003 had two consequences: the...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (16 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank all Senators who took part in the debate for their very constructive responses to the Bill. To take up Senator Moloney's point, and in my role as Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, it is important that we remember that while this building is a Parliament, it is also a historic building which we have a duty to protect and preserve.There are a number of things that need...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the officials who worked so diligently on the Bill to get it through both Houses. I thank Senators for their constructive engagement on the Bill. I will relay their views to the Minister, Deputy Howlin, although it sounds like he is very aware of them.

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (16 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I imagine all the issues will be a matter for the next Dáil to consider.

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

Simon Harris: The Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme is at design stage with the outline design expected to be completed in the next few months. At the same time, an Environmental Impact Statement will be completed. It is expected that this will allow the holding of a formal public exhibition in mid 2016 following which work on the detailed design will be progressed with the aim of enabling the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: In May of this year the Office of Public Works (OPW) approved funding to Kilkenny County Council to commission consultants to undertake a study and provide a report with recommendations on the feasibility of implementing individual property protection measures in certain areas in that county. I understand that tenders are due back in Kilkenny County Council shortly. It is envisaged that the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works does not recruit staff in the grade of Architectural Adviser. Open competitions for all Established grades are conducted by the Public Appointments Service.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works is aware of the company as well as a range of other companies that supply similar types of products and other flood defence solutions. The products offered by this company would be more suitable for deployment in an emergency response to a flood. As Local Authorities are the primary response agencies in flood situations, this company's products would, more likely,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Deputy may be aware that Section 28(2) of the State Property Act, 1954 provides for the personal property and land vested in or held in trust by a body corporate immediately prior to its dissolution (other than personal property or land held by such body upon trust for another person)to become the property of the State, until such time as the company is restored to the Register or the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Harbours and Piers Maintenance (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Repair works to the storm-damaged slipway on the Island were completed earlier this year. Longer-term proposals for the provision of a new pier are dependent on the provision of capital funding from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The retirement of the former manager will be considered in the context of overall staffing requirements within the Office of Public Works. Following a separate recruitment process a new supervisory position of Foreman has recently been filled.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: It is a matter for Kerry County Council (KCC) in the first instance to investigate and address localised flooding problems. If, following assessment, viable measures to address the flooding problem are identified then the Council may implement such measures using its own resources. The Hotel, as a commercial enterprise, may also be in a position to invest in protective measures. It is open...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 to 193, inclusive, together. It is a matter for Kerry County Council (KCC) in the first instance to investigate and address issues of coastal protection at the locations indicated. Following my visit to County Kerry in May 2015, there have been ongoing contacts between Kerry County Council staff and staff of the Office of Public Works (OPW) in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: As indicated in my replies to the Deputy's previous Questions on this subject, dated 2 April and 22 October this year, the Office of Public Works (OPW) Flood Risk Assessment & Management (FRAM) Section is currently undertaking a Feasibility Study to assess flood risk management options for Sneem, as a separate study to the South-Western CFRAM (Sneem is not an Area for Further...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: In line with recent years, it is proposed that the visitor season at the Skellig Michael World Heritage Site will run from 14 May to 2 October 2016, weather permitting. Prior to the start of the season, the OPW staff and a specialist Safety Contractor will, as normal, engage in pre-season maintenance tasks on the Island to make it safe for visitors and to deal with any damage caused by Winter...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Station Refurbishment (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Commissioners for Public Works have included Donnybrook Garda Station on its list of planned maintenance projects to be carried out in 2016. The exterior of the Station will be power cleaned and the windows refurbished and painted. It is envisaged that these works will be carried out in Q2 next year.

Leaders' Questions (13 Jan 2016)

Simon Harris: We would not see Deputy Adams at them.