Results 41,841-41,860 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I would not want to do anything that would short circuit our exchanges on Committee Stage of the Finance Bill as it is an enjoyable experience. The Senators will be aware that a similar amendment was proposed in the Dáil and that it was the subject of significant debate on Committee and Report Stages. During those debates both myself the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, and...

Seanad: Flooding: Statements (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I wish to thank Senators for affording me the opportunity to address the Seanad on the severe weather which affected the country over the past weekend and into this week. At the outset, I join all Members of this and the Lower House in conveying my deepest sympathy to all those who have been affected by the flooding. I have seen, at first hand, the devastating impact that flooding can have...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The River Tolka has a history of flooding following heavy rainfall, which has been well documented after major flood events in 1954 and subsequent years. The river has been the subject of a number of investigations, and of most significance were those carried out in 1955 and 1986. Severe flooding from the Tolka River and its tributaries occurred in the Dublin City, Meath and Fingal areas in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The provision of flood defences in Foynes is being undertaken by Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW). The Council has developed a scheme which has been approved under Part Viii of the Planning and Development Regulations. The Council is currently progressing the procurement of a civil works contractor to undertake the scheme works and is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (9 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: My previous reply to this question sought to explain that the design of OPW funded flood relief schemes including the design height of any flood defence walls included as part of the schemes must satisfy the required standard to provide protection against the 1 in 100 year flood event in the case of rivers and the 1 in 200 year event in the case of coastal or tidal flooding. This is a...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I was there.

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I could respond in a moment rather than shouting across the Chamber at the Deputy.

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I will do my best. There were a lot of questions and, obviously, Members had a lot longer to ask them than I have to answer them. On immediate works, let me be clear that there is an ongoing scheme called the minor flood mitigation scheme, for which any local authority can apply to the Office of Public Works. It has clear criteria. All the local authority engineers are well aware of it...

Topical Issue Debate: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies for their contributions and for allowing me the opportunity to address the House regarding the severe weather which affected the country over last weekend and well into this week. I pledge my willingness to work with Members on all sides of the House to address the many challenges facing communities right across the country. I take this opportunity, too, to express my...

Equal Participation in Schools Bill 2015: First Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: No.

EU Framework Agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Referral to Select Committee (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I move:That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the terms of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Co-operation between the European Union and its member states, of the one part, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, of the other part, signed at Brussels on 27 June 2012, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 7 December 2015, be referred to...

Equality in Education Bill 2015: First Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: No.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The local property tax was introduced in 2012 and was designed to serve a dual function. First, it provided a stable funding base for the local authority sector, incorporating appropriate elements of local authority responsibility. As such, it strongly reinforced local democratic decision making and encouraged greater efficiency by local authorities on behalf of their electorates. Second,...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: It has.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: No, it is not.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: It does not.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: It is 2019.

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank all the Senators who contributed to the debate. It is clear that the Minister for Finance’s decision to allow the next Government the space, and to seek the mandate from the people, to make any necessary amendments or tweaks to the policy of local property tax, LPT, is prudent. My view and that of the Minister and the Government is that LPT is an important form of taxation...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: He may be back. From 1 January 2015, local authorities have had the discretion to vary the local property tax rate by plus or minus 15%. Several authorities have exercised this option and between its inception and the end of 2015, the LPT is expected to have contributed more than €1 billion to the funding of local authorities. I note, however, that some will apply a smaller, or no,...

Seanad: Finance (Local Property Tax) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for putting forward these amendments. I am advised that the local property tax is forecast to collect €440 million in 2015. These receipts would be lost if local property tax was abolished and would need to be found elsewhere. This would represent a substantial loss to the Exchequer, particularly as under the terms of the Stability and Growth Pact, Ireland may...