Results 41,981-42,000 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: It is an important question. My understanding from consulting officials is that this is not a response to a Revenue-specific problem or an issue highlighted by the Revenue Commissioners to the Government. Rather, it transposes the EU parent-subsidiary directive into law. I have no knowledge of individual cases or problems.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they are not aware of any case and that this is a common anti-abuse measure. That is the best advice available to me. This transposes an EU directive.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I do not propose to go fully into the report unless the Deputy wishes me to in a later exchange. Obviously there are lots of different figures quoted for effective corporation tax rates, but the report, which was co-authored by Mr. Seamus Coffey and the Department of Finance, found that the effective corporate tax rate in this country was 10.7% or 10.9%, and that is documented in the report...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I am merely pointing out that the statistics the Deputy quotes are not statistics that I accept. I am not accepting them on the basis of the report that the Department published and co-authored with Mr. Seamus Coffey. Let me respond directly to the amendment from Deputies Tóibín and Doherty. At 12.5%, as we have already discussed at length, Ireland has one of the most...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 63:In page 60, to delete lines 7 to 38, and in page 61, to delete line 1 and substitute the following:"597AA.(1) (a) In this section—'51 per cent subsidiary' has the same meaning as it has in section 9(1)(a); 'development land' has the same meaning as it has in section 648; 'group' means a holding company and one or more companies which are 51 per cent...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I wish to notify the committee of the intention by the Minister for Finance to bring forward amendments relating to the CGT entrepreneur relief on Report Stage. One of the amendments will relate to a further modification of the minimum shareholding requirement in the entrepreneur relief provisions and a second amendment will relate to section 542 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, to deal with...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I am informed by Revenue there have been no specific cases but that it is a prudent anti-avoidance measure to include in the budget each year. As the Deputy is aware, we try, in consultation with Revenue, to identify areas where we should beef up anti-avoidance and this is one of those areas. However, the Revenue Commissioners advise me they are not aware of any specific cases.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2015: Committee Stage (Resumed) (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: There is no cost to the Exchequer associated with this.

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: Far from annoying me, I always enjoy Senator Barrett's view and very much accept his sincerity on all of these matters. We had a chance to speak about this, and I believe the Senator will understand that regardless of my views or his, I am not in a position to accept the amendment, as Part 2 does not provide for the bank recovery and resolution measures available to Ireland. Its purpose is...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I pay tribute to the Senator's attention to detail, but we have consulted the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel on this point and it has indicated that while it can appreciate, as can I, where the Senator is coming from with his proposed amendment, its view is that it matters little in practice because it is difficult to see how whichever word we use, be it "stand" or "stands ", can be...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The Senator is quite right to raise this matter, and I am happy to provide clarity on it. Under section 8 of the Financial Services (Deposit Guarantee Scheme) Act 2009 as it stands, the period for repaying the Central Bank for a short-term advance it has provided is three months. We have consulted the European Central Bank on the matter and I can inform the House it is satisfied that two...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Barrett. On Second Stage we had an opportunity to discuss the issues relating to Setanta and the importance of ensuring we have enhanced monitoring through the market intelligence on freedom of services firms in the Central Bank. I was pleased to be able to assure the House that since the issues arose with Setanta, the Central Bank has enhanced its market intelligence on...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I do not propose to accept this amendment on the grounds that it is not intended to revisit the operation of the NTMA or the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund at this time. These will continue to operate in the manner prescribed in the NTMA (Amendment) Act. This section of the Bill operates as a technical amendment and does not change the effect or the operation of section 37(a) of the NTMA...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 225, inclusive, together. Kilmainham Gaol is a National Monument site in the care of the Office of Public Works and is, with almost 330,000 visitors last year, one of the most popular and heavily-visited tourist sites in Ireland. The OPW's role at Kilmainham is to maintain and conserve the site as a National Monument. This is a statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The total funding allocation, current and capital, for the Office of Public Works (OPW) overall Flood Risk Management Programme in 2015 is €87.815m. This includes provision for expenditure on capital flood relief works, on arterial drainage maintenance activities, the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, purchase of plant and machinery, hydrometric and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I am advise that the Commissioners of Public Works have no record of receiving an application from South Dublin County Council seeking a waiver of a parcel of land at Knockmitten Park, Clondalkin arising from the dissolution of Western Investments Ltd.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I am advised that this appears to be a matter related to the flooding of a road, and therefore may not be appropriate for the Office of Public Works (OPW). It may be a matter for Galway County Council to address as part of its ongoing road maintenance and improvement programme or the Department of Transport as appropriate. Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for Local...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The Commissioners of Public Works manage a large and diverse property portfolio including the property known as Durrow Abbey House. Durrow Abbey House is leased to the Arts for Peace Foundation (AFP) charity on a 99 year lease which includes an obligation on the tenant to insure and keep the house in good repair. A notice issued to the lessee under clause 2.13 of the lease giving notice that...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Projects (17 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 to 241, inclusive, together. I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that a notice inviting applications to operate a bicycle-hire concession in the Phoenix Park, with a detailed specification of requirements, was placed on the E-Tenders website portal on the 1st April 2015. Two applicants applied. The listed criteria in the...

Seanad: Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (12 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to present the Finance (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015 to this House. At the outset, it should be noted that this Bill is very much of a technical nature and is designed primarily to address certain national and international obligations arising from a number of issues associated with the EU financial services legislative and transposition agenda. There is also a technical...