Results 42,001-42,020 of 46,353 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works has not received a feasibility report for this project to date. The preparation of this report is a matter for Clare County Council and it is understood that the report is nearing completion by the Council. Upon its completion, the Council is to forward the report to the OPW for consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The Northside Civic Centre, which is in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW), is leased to a number of organisations. A facility management contract is in place to provide various services to the building and its occupants. This has been re-tendered recently by the OPW and a new contract is due to commence on the 1st January 2016. The new contract agreement provides for the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Performing Arts (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Michael Comiskey on behalf of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for raising this important matter and bringing it to the attention of Government. The Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all their forms, to increase access to and participation in the arts and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Performing Arts (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Comiskey and acknowledge his interest in this important matter. The cultural policy being developed by the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and her Department is Ireland's first ever such policy and will provide an opportunity for the viewpoints of everyone involved in cultural life to be heard, co-ordinated and structured into the national strategy. I will ensure that...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drugs Smuggling (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I note that this matter was directed to the Minister for Justice and Equality. However, I am responding on behalf of-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drugs Smuggling (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: -----the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. I will ask that the Garda Síochána details requested by the Senator be provided to him. I will revert to him on that point. I thank him for raising this important matter. The Revenue Commissioners have primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, interception and seizure of controlled drugs being smuggled into...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drugs Smuggling (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Daly for raising this matter, as it is an important issue. The 2,000 staff are engaged in targeting and confronting non-compliance rather than the general array of work but I take the Senator's point in that their work involves more than drug smuggling, for example, non-compliance, audit, debt collection, etc. It is not that the Revenue Commissioners or I am attempting to be...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drugs Smuggling (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: Revenue has informed me that because its resources are deployed across its broad compliance activities - of which the combating of drug smuggling is an important component - it allocates them on the basis of risk. Revenue has a presence at all key airports and ports but it also deploys resources, on a risk assessment basis, to less busy points. Staff deployed at any particular location can...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The Kells High Crosses are significant historical artefacts and, as such, are protected under National Monument legislation. There has been a concern in recent years about the deteriorating condition of the Crosses and, as the Deputy mentions, there is evidence of some accelerated weather and environmental erosion on some of the panels of the West and South Crosses in particular....

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Insurance Cover (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: Neither my Department nor the Office of Public Works (OPW) have any function in relation to the oversight or regulation of insurance matters. The provision of insurance cover, the level of premiums charged and the policy terms applied are matters for individual insurers. Insurance companies make commercial decisions on the provision of insurance cover based on their assessment of the risks...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: Ramelton and Letterkenny are two Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs) that are being assessed under the Office of Public Works (OPW) Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, the purpose of which is to implement the EU Floods Directive and national flood policy. They are being assessed under the North West–Neagh Bann (NW-NB) CFRAM study. Work on this study is...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study being undertaken by the Office of Public Works is the core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon basin. I am advised that good progress continues to be made on the Study. A total of 66 locations along the Shannon, covering an area of 17,800 square kilometres, have been identified for further assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (19 Nov 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...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Driver Test Centres (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The provision of improved facilities for the driving testers and test candidates in Galway remains a priority and the Commissioners of Public Works continue to work with the Road Safety Authority in an effort to advance matters. As stated in replies to previous parliamentary questions and representations on this matter, the question of providing Heavy Goods Vehicle testing facilities in...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Drainage Schemes Status (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has submitted the proposals for the Clare River (Claregalway) flood relief scheme for statutory approval or Confirmation by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, as required by the Arterial Drainage Acts. The issues raised in relation to the delay in obtaining approval by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (19 Nov 2015)

Simon Harris: The July 2012 Report of the Joint Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on Shannon flooding included eight proposals to tackle flooding on the Shannon. These proposals covered a number of issues across a range of Government Departments and State Bodies. The Office of Public Works (OPW) responded to the Committee by way of a written reply in September 2012, both welcoming...

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

Simon Harris: Not yet. The Minister for Finance intends to bring forward an amendment on Report Stage to provide for an increased deduction for certain landlords when calculating rental profits. The deduction will increase from 75% to 100% in respect of interest paid on qualifying loans for landlords who commit to providing rental properties to social housing tenants for a minimum period of three years.

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. 43:In page 43, between lines 3 and 4, to insert the following:“ ‘Member State’ has the same meaning as ‘relevant Member State’ has in section 766;”. Most of these amendments are technical in nature with the purpose of correcting minor drafting errors and ensuring the legislation that implements the knowledge development box, KDB,...

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. 44:In page 44, line 5, to delete “section 105” and substitute “section 106”.

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. 45:In page 44, line 6, after “criteria,” to insert “in that the invention is susceptible of industrial application, new and involves an inventive step,”.