Results 1,021-1,040 of 45,503 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Customs and Excise Controls (16 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of customs enforcement officers allocated to combat illegal cigarette smuggling here; the locations at which they are based; the number in each location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44154/12]

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: We will not take responsibility for Fianna Fáil's work.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I thank the witnesses for coming before the committee. To pick up on the point made by Deputy Donohoe, this is a very useful process and a good reflection on the Oireachtas. A criticism of social partnership in previous years was how the Oireachtas was never allowed comment on social partnership or public sector reform and everything was done behind closed doors with announcements made with...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I accept this. I agree with Mr. Howard. What has happened is what I politically call "Bertie economics", which is rather than addressing basic public sector pay we introduced a range of allowances to meet the legitimate expectations of people doing, in many cases, dangerous and important work. I was just making that point. However, it is not a defence for continuing some allowances....

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: Does Mr. Rooney have a similar opinion?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: There would probably be broad public agreement on that point. The Defence Forces' allowances have been the subject of much focus, but I wish to discuss the allowances for staff within the Department of Defence. They replicate allowances across the public sector. Mr. Howard referred to the need for rebranding while speaking with my colleague, Deputy Donohoe. If I could give one piece of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: Yes, this issue will arise across Departments. My final question is on the business cases that were put forward. I have read many of them. Calling some of them "business cases" was possibly an overstatement. Is Mr. Howard in a position to offer me his opinion of the quality of the process? This is an important issue. Morale in the Defence Forces has been mentioned. There has been a...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Appropriation Accounts of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Vote 36: Defence - Review of Allowances (18 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: As Mr. Howard is entitled to do. I thank him for his reply.

Leaders' Questions (23 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: Deputy Adams would know all about that.

Public Accounts Committee: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Houses of the Oireachtas Commission - Review of Allowances (23 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I will be brief. I apologise for being late as I was in another meeting. The point made by Deputy McDonald is very fair. Many of these allowances are doing a disservice to people in the public service, and a number of people I have met who are civil and public servants are nearly embarrassed by the legacy system that exists. They want to see it reformed. Where an allowance is pay for...

Public Accounts Committee: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Houses of the Oireachtas Commission - Review of Allowances (23 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: Is there a timeline on moving the priority allowances? Will it happen after the end of the Croke Park agreement or is it ongoing? When will we see the first steps?

Public Accounts Committee: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Houses of the Oireachtas Commission - Review of Allowances (23 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: This exercise by the Committee of Public Accounts has been quite useful. Representatives of the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence were before us last week, as the witness is probably aware. I have been critical of the Croke Park agreement for adopting what I see as a catch-all way of treating everyone, regardless of income, the same. It has created a two-tier process in how we...

Public Accounts Committee: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Houses of the Oireachtas Commission - Review of Allowances (23 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I have some final comments. I presume we are not doing this in a vacuum, that we are learning from international best practice and that there are ongoing political discussions with the troika, our international friends, for the want of a better phrase. Have we done an analysis of how other countries, including other OECD countries, measure up?

Public Accounts Committee: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Houses of the Oireachtas Commission - Review of Allowances (23 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: There is no international analysis.

Public Accounts Committee: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Houses of the Oireachtas Commission - Review of Allowances (23 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I might return to that again.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water and Sewerage Schemes (24 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the provision of a new sewerage treatment plant (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46656/12]

Public Accounts Committee: Department of Education and Skills - Review of Allowances (24 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: The meeting with the Department of Defence and the representative bodies of the Defence Forces was very productive. I understand the representatives of the personnel in the Defence Forces are not covered by congress. However, it is very useful to have them here. I acknowledge we cannot compel representatives to come here but I am aware that congress will attend. When the congress...

Public Accounts Committee: Department of Education and Skills - Review of Allowances (24 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I am certainly not presenting it as that; I am just saying it would be constructive and helpful, and in the interest of both the professions and this committee, to have an exchange about the specific sector. As the Chairman said, it is the choice of the representatives in question.

Public Accounts Committee: Department of Education and Skills - Review of Allowances (24 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: I am very much aware of that. Significant work is taking place under the Croke Park agreement. I am aware of some of the changes happening in schools in my constituency as a result of it. Could Mr. Ó Foghlú give us a broad outline of the tangible benefits of the changes made in the education sector under the Croke Park agreement? It would be useful to put these on the record.

Public Accounts Committee: Department of Education and Skills - Review of Allowances (24 Oct 2012)

Simon Harris: That is useful. There can often be one-way traffic when we are discussing the Croke Park agreement. It is healthy at the outset to list some of the examples of change management in the sector in these difficult times. It is important to acknowledge this. Let me return to the issue of supervision and retired teachers re-entering the classroom. This is a bugbear of the taxpayer and every...