Results 41,941-41,960 of 46,353 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

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

Simon Harris: This amendment relates to reliefs sought from local property tax relating to properties which are mortgaged and where there are mortgage arrears or mortgage restructuring arrangements in place. The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act of 2012, as amended, provides for reliefs from LPT in such circumstances, whereby a person may opt to defer or partially defer payment of the tax.Where a person...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Ground Rents Payments (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The following table schedules the ground rents payable to landlords on properties managed by the Office of Public Works. The OPW is not in a position to supply details on ground rents that may be payable by other Government Departments or Agencies on behalf of the State. PROPERTY NAME GROUND RENT PER ANNUM LANDLORD Cork SWO - Hanover Street €361.88 EXECUTORS OF PERROTT ESTATE Dun...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: State Properties (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works recently carried out works to repair the boundary wall adjoining the access roadway to the car park and also repairs to the access roadway itself at the Government Offices in Buncrana. The repairs were due to some wall cracking and localised settlement in the ground. Works are now complete since the 4th December 2015. There are no further works planned at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (8 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.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (8 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: Kildare County Council (KCC), in consultation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), engaged Consulting Engineers to carry out a Full Feasibility Study, Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Lower Morrell River and the surrounding River Catchment in an effort to resolve the outstanding localised flooding issues in the Straffan area. A Steering Group...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: I shall begin by thanking all of the Senators for their contributions on the Finance Bill. Any time I have come to the House we have had an interesting and informative debate, and today has been no different. On behalf of the Minister for Finance and myself, I thank everybody for their comments and viewpoints. There were some suggestions and advance warnings about matters that Senators...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2015: Second Stage (3 Dec 2015)

Simon Harris: A significant change has been made and it is as much as we could afford on this occasion. The Minister has, however, indicated that he sees a change to the group A tax-free threshold in this year's budget as the start of a process. Provided, among other factors, that our economic recovery continues, and if the Minister remains the Minister for Finance, he intends to examine the scope for...