Results 1,221-1,240 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: In the context of the forthcoming Irish Presidency of the European Union, the Financial Times of 18 December 2012 reported that a member of the European Court of Auditors, Karel Pinxten, issued a warning on untracked overseas aid in the European Parliament. Mr. Rogers is probably familiar with the matter. The headline read "EU warned over untracked overseas aid" and the first sentence of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: I wish to make two final points. Deputy Deasy touched on a point relating to the NGOs and payscales. As politicians representing the taxpayer's interests, we find it frustrating when we ask organisations, some of which are involved in overseas aid while others are involved in other areas, for their remuneration figures and they tell us it is a private matter and nothing to do with us. Mr....

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: That is good news. Vote 28 relates to the Department. Note 5.2 is a reference to specialist tasks for which two retired civil servants were paid €142,968 in 2011. I am unclear about the nature of the specialist tasks.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 19 - Official Development Assistance
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vote 29 - International Co-operation (20 Dec 2012)

Simon Harris: His skill set is unique.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill: Discussion with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (10 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: The Minister is correct in the sense that this welcome and overdue legislation will fix restrictions introduced in the past, while extending its remit to the National Asset Management Agency. However, we also need to move beyond the culture where people need to submit freedom of information requests to obtain information. While the Department is doing significant work in this regard in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a shortage of primary school places in a locality (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if he has met with local stakeholders in an effort to address this shortage; the action he plans to take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1339/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school building project will commence at a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1344/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Domiciliary Care Allowance Review (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she expects the review group she established to examine the domiciliary care allowance to conclude its work; if she will provide a report; if she intends to then publish this report; the number of times the group has met; the dates on which the group has met; the full membership of the review group; and if she will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has met with the carer's association since her appointment; if she plans to meet with them again in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1341/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Insurance for the Self-Employed (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her policy in relation to assisting self-employed persons access to social welfare supports as the need arises; when she expects to advance any plans to address current difficulties experienced by self-employed persons in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1343/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Child Benefit Review (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the date on which she received the expert report on reforming the child benefit system; the membership of this expert group; the terms of reference of this expert group; when she intends to bring the report to Government; when she will publish the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1345/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Carers Strategy (16 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Health the current status of the National Carer's Strategy; if an implementation plan is in place for this strategy; the elements of the strategy that will be implemented this year; the number of years over which it is hoped to implement all elements of the strategy; if he will outline the structures in place on a cross-departmental basis to coordinate the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow will receive sanction for an extension; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this extension is required as a result of his Department’s request in 2007 that the school increase its capacity, that in excess of 250 students are regularly crowded into sub-standard pre-fabricated...

Leaders' Questions (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: Deputy Adams was let down.

Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: I am delighted to have an opportunity to raise with the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, the need to plan for the provision of more primary school places in the Greystones, Kilcoole and Delgany areas. The population of the town of Greystones has increased significantly in recent years. According to the CSO, the most recent census found that more than 10,000 people lived in the...

Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response which will provide a great deal of detail and clarity for many parents in the Greystones, Kilcoole and Delgany areas. I particularly welcome the progress being made with regard to the Greystones Educate Together school and the additional classroom space that will be made available to Gaelscoil na Clocha Liatha. I ask the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a child in sixth class who cannot access a secondary school place in their locality; the advice he will give to parents of such a child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3874/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Overpayments (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the level of overpayments recorded by her Department in social welfare payments in each of the years 2007 to 2012 inclusive in tabular form; if she will provide a breakdown of these overpayments by individual social welfare scheme; the process in place to prevent such over payment; the reasons overpayments occur; and if she will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Broadband Services (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the national broadband roll-out programme; the date on which an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow is likely to be covered by the national broadband plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4355/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Residential Tenancies Act (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends to review the 2004 Tenancy Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3982/13]