Results 1,241-1,260 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government when the 2013 funding will be allocated to Wicklow County Council; the total amount of this funding; if he will provide a breakdown of the way this funding will be allocated between the county council and town councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4332/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has expanded the role of the Private Security Authority to cover the issuing of licences for businesses working in the area of CCTV, security gates and so on; if he has given consideration to the implementation costs to businesses; if he is confident that the Private Security Authority has adequate knowledge of this industry; if he is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no speech and language support available in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow due to maternity leave and sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3760/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Health the current waiting time for initial referral to speech and language therapy in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow for each of the years 2007 to 2012 inclusive; the number of children availing of this service; the number of adults availing of this service; the measures already taken and being taken currently to address this; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Dispensing Fees (29 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Health the criteria that is required for a person with a long term illness to avail of a reduced prescription charge; and when additional illnesses are present the level to which that reduction is applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4354/13]

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: With this Bill, we take another firm step towards abolishing the HSE, on the basis of which the Government campaigned in the last general election. However, we cannot do the populist thing of abolishing the HSE in the morning and leaving a vacuum. The untangling of the bureaucratic mess that is the HSE must be done in stages, in a logical manner and over time. This is exactly what the...

Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 [Seanad]: Second Stage (30 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: I am pleased with the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, and her attempts to get back this money and send out a clear message to the effect that when we ring fence €35 million it should be spent on mental health services. There was cross-party support on this issue. This reforming Bill is an important step towards the roll out of free general practitioner care. I...

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: We will leave now and Opposition Members can debate among themselves.

Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: Can we give Deputy Mary Lou McDonald extra time?

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: I thank Mr. Ryan and his colleagues for attending this meeting. I thank the staff of Enterprise Ireland for the tremendous work they have done over the past several years as we attempt to rebuild and recreate our economy. The statistics and information contained in the annual report and accounts for 2011 make it clear that the economy is being repositioned from people selling houses and...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: That is a useful clarification. The Action Plan for Jobs has played an important role in keeping State agencies focused on creating jobs. Enterprise Ireland is responsible for approximately 100 of the 270 actions in the plan, which is a significant proportion. How many of the 100 actions have been ticked off as done and what were the most important ones this year? One can only imagine the...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: The annual report refers to Enterprise Ireland's 29 international offices. A lot of the bodies that come before this committee, including the IDA and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, have international offices. The Chairman previously made the valid point that there is clearly a need for a more integrated approach. Can we have Irish offices that carry out multiple functions...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: I am delighted to hear that. The then Chinese Vice President visited last year and there were a number of reciprocal visits by our Ministers to China. Has anything tangible happened since those visits in the context of exports? I am pleased EI is proactive in co-locating with our embassies in the first instance. How do EI offices interact on a daily basis with our diplomatic missions in...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: Our exports grew by 5% in 2012, which was approximately twice the world average. Clearly, we are doing well on that front but we need to have an honest discussion about what needs to be done going forward. What are the main challenges facing Ireland's cost base as an exporting country? Has EI identified skills or capacity gaps in the context of exporting? If so, what needs to be done to...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: One of the biggest problems about which we all hear and know is that of accessing credit for companies that want to export or just establish here. I know that Enterprise Ireland has undertaken some work in this area. The Sunday Business Post reported that Enterprise Ireland was in talks with banks about developing a new credit line specifically for technology and export companies. How...

Public Accounts Committee: Enterprise Ireland - Annual Report and Financial Statement 2011 (31 Jan 2013)

Simon Harris: That was a very enlightening answer which we probably needed to hear because I had never before heard of our banks being so ill-equipped in terms of knowledge to deal with an export economy. It is very helpful to have that acknowledged here. Is the situation in our banks improving? Mr. O'Donnellan has been dealing with them since 2008. How does he find the situation now? If he does not...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Registrations (5 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the implementation of the Water Services Amendment Act 2012; the numbers of septic tanks that have been registered on a county basis; the percentage this represents of overall septic tanks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5075/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the schools at which the four additional classrooms to meet primary school place demand for September 2013 will be located in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5623/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Services Provision (5 Feb 2013)

Simon Harris: To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there are any water infrastructure plans in place which would include the upgrade of the water supply pipes to County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5403/13]