Results 42,201-42,220 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Double Taxation Agreements Motion: Minister of State at the Department of Finance (23 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: Is the Chairman asking why the Irish ambassador to the United Kingdom signed the agreement with the Bahamas?

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Double Taxation Agreements Motion: Minister of State at the Department of Finance (23 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: I will check that out for the Chairman. I will now deal with the questions on BEPS. As the Chairman knows we are now reaching the finality and the BEPS reports are expected to be published in October. The BEPS action plan includes the development of measures to prevent the abuse of treaties. Some of these measures will involve changes to the OECD model convention on which Ireland's...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Double Taxation Agreements Motion: Minister of State at the Department of Finance (23 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: Areas like the Bahamas are autonomous on tax matters. They make their own decisions.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Prevention Measures (23 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Naughton for giving me the opportunity to address the Seanad on these matters. The Office of Public Works has arrangements in place with consultants to provide a tidal and storm surge forecasting service for the coast of Ireland to local authorities and to other relevant stakeholders during the autumn and winter period. This service is now operating for the 2015 to 2016...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Flood Prevention Measures (23 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Senator that we need a national plan. When CFRAM is concluded, we will for the first time in the history of the State have a national flood mapping exercise. However, more than just mapping the problem, we will also have structural solutions where they exist for each of the problems. That will provide a roadmap for this and future Governments to deliver once and for all on...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Beef Data Programme (23 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator MacSharry. I am pleased to be here on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who regrets that he cannot be here. The beef data and genomics programme, BDGP, was launched by the Minister on 5 May last. It is part of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and involves funding of some €300 million over the next six years and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Beef Data Programme (23 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: It is appropriate that in the week of the ploughing championships we should have an opportunity to discuss agricultural matters in this House. I, therefore, thank Senator MacSharry for affording us that opportunity. I will certainly convey his views to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I reiterate that the RDP will be subject to a mid-term review. All schemes are subject...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (23 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: The river concerned does not form part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme which would fall under the remit of the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act. The OPW therefore has no responsibility for the maintenance of the channel, nor any authority to carry out works there. Tralee is one of 300 locations nationwide that is being assessed under the OPW's Catchment Flood...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (23 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: The river concerned does not form part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme which would fall under the remit of the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act. The OPW therefore has no responsibility for the maintenance of the channel, nor any authority to carry out works there. Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Expenditure (23 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 71 together. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has incurred expenditure on drainage works in County Cavan in the period in question in respect of both its ongoing programme of maintenance of watercourses and channels under Arterial Drainage Schemes carried out by it in the county and in respect of funding provided to Cavan County Council for works...

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: Or for the people.

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: It is similar to your poll rating.

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: That is your job.

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: I, too, am pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to this motion of confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government. I am pleased to have the opportunity but also frustrated, along with Deputy O'Sullivan, that we will spend such a significant amount of time on the opening day of this Dáil session discussing a report that has been out in the public domain for quite a long time...

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: This was a serious time of crisis.

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: The Deputy's fauxoutrage-----

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: Please do not shout me down. The Deputy's fauxoutrage is hard to take, but it is made all the more galling in the absence of genuine outrage at so many pivotal points during his tenure in ministerial office. Where was his outrage when he came to this House and voted confidence in Bertie Ahern when he could not produce a tax clearance certificate? Where was his outrage when the former...

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: Facts are inconvenient at times for the Opposition, but one salient fact is worth remembering. There has only ever been one Garda Commissioner dismissed in this country whom the courts found was unfairly dismissed. That was a Garda Commissioner dismissed under a Fianna Fáil-led Government. With regard to Sinn Féin, I apologise to Deputy Adams for not getting along to his...

Confidence in Taoiseach, the Attorney General and the Government: Motion (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Harris: There is no doubt that there are many issues that need to be addressed, as my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, has said about the justice system. That is already happening due to the reforming programme being pursued by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, which includes the setting up of an independent policing authority, reform of the Department in line...