Results 41,881-41,900 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Coastal Erosion (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Ó Clochartaigh for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to update the Seanad on the subject of coastal erosion. I echo his comments on the courageous work carried out by local authority workers right around the country, including in Galway, during the very difficult storms and floods we experienced a number of years ago. Coastal erosion is a natural and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Coastal Erosion (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: It stands to reason that my office can only fund projects it has been asked to fund. If we have not received an application we cannot assess the application. Without knowing the specific details of Tawin Island, Galway County Council will be well aware of the criteria for the minor works scheme and if it sees merit in submitting an application I assure the Senator it will be assessed as a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Relief Measures (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter, on which she has been working for quite a few years at this stage. I hear, and share, her frustration that this is going on so long. Only a few weeks after taking up this role, I had the opportunity to meet with a number of residents in the area and I know the grave difficulties they have experienced and their continual fear of future...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Relief Measures (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: As soon as An Bord Pleanála makes a decision - a matter with which I do not wish to interfere - if we are ready to proceed with the scheme, then I would be delighted to meet the Senator and update her on the timeline for getting these works in place. We are very committed to this. We want to see it happening. It has been a long time in the offing. We have set aside the funding and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (2 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Twenty six Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) are being assessed in County Donegal under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. These were deemed to be areas of potentially significant flood risk under the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) which was completed in 2011. The Donegal AFAs are being assessed under the North...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (1 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Kilcummin Pier, Kilcummin, Ballina, Co. Mayo is not an Area for Further Assessment (AFA) within the Western Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) study, as it was not deemed to be an area of potentially significant flood risk under the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) which was completed in 2011. For more information on the PFRA please see www.cfram.ie It is not...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (1 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The management of problems of coastal protection in the locations mentioned is a matter for Kerry County Council (KCC) in the first instance. KCC must thoroughly assess the problem and, if it is considered that specific measures and works are required, it is open to them to apply for funding to deal with coastal protection under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (1 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Clare County Council (CCC) as the contracting authority under its powers, with funding and advice as appropriate from the Office of Public Works (OPW). CCC and the OPW are continuing discussions regarding technical aspects of the proposed works. When all outstanding technical matters are resolved CCC will proceed with issuing...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Heritage Sites (1 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: A competition for up to four new permits for Skellig Michael will be held early in the new year. The delay in making final arrangements has been due to legal matters. The Office of Public Works (OPW) Heritage Service is proposing to meet with Oireachtas Members from the area soon to explain the issues involved and to outline the process that will be followed in allocating new Permits.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (1 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The management of problems of coastal protection in the particular area indicated is a matter for Fingal County Council in the first instance. The Council must assess the problem and, if it is considered that specific measures and works are required, it is open to them to apply for funding under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (1 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works (OPW) very recently received from Clare County Council (CCC) a copy of the feasibility study report prepared by the engineering consultants engaged by CCC to examine the flooding issues at the location mentioned. The OPW will be responding to CCC in due course when it has completed a full review of the feasibility study report.

Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill 2015: Referral to Select Committee (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality pursuant to 82A3(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business and paragraph (8) of the Orders of Reference of Select Committees.

Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: As Deputies can see on the monitors, the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, is unavoidably detained in the Seanad, where she is dealing with another Bill. She has asked me to speak on her behalf as we close the debate on this Bill. I am very pleased to have an opportunity to participate in the debate. It is clear that domestic burglary is of great concern to all Members of this House. I want to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: Galway County Council submitted an application for funding to the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Minor Flood Mitigation and Coastal Protection Scheme for works at this location. The OPW was not able to approve this application for the following reason. From the information contained in the application it was not possible to adequately determine the benefits that would be derived...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes (26 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: Cork County Council, as the Contracting Authority for the Scheme, has very recently received a recommendation from its consultants in relation to the tender process and on 24 November, wrote formally to the Office of Public Works on the matter. The OPW is considering the correspondence from the Council and will be replying shortly on it.

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: It is an important question and I assure the Deputy that the Department of Finance will publish that report in the coming months. Regardless of the findings, a report will be published. Alongside that, all the submissions received will be published.

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McGrath. In his amendment, the Deputy is seeking to reduce the rate of DIRT to a rate equivalent to the taxpayer's marginal rate of tax, that is, 40%, 20% or 0%, if the person does not have a taxable income. The standard DIRT rate has increased significantly since 2008, as Deputy McGrath said. It has gone from 20% to 41% and is now 1% above the higher rate of tax. Up to...

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McGrath. I know there was a debate about this on Committee Stage with my colleague, the Minister for Finance. Based on that, I do not propose to accept the amendment. As stated by the Minister on Committee Stage, section 114 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for a tax deduction in respect of travel expenses that an employee or office holder is necessarily obliged...

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Daly, and I know she has raised the issue on several occasions because I have been here when the Minister of Finance has discussed it with her. I am aware of the issues that the Deputy is attempting to address with her proposed amendment. At the outset, I acknowledge the stressful situations that individuals face when building works are not completed to the required...

Finance Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I do not know where to begin. Clearly, we are not opposed to equality. We are in favour of trying to get everyone in this country back into employment, thereby reducing the burden of tax on work. We have increased the minimum wage and we have tried to support people through the social welfare system during a number of difficult years. I imagine we are going to have many such debates in...