Results 42,401-42,420 of 46,353 for speaker:Simon Harris

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: That is nonsense. It is a lie.

Leaders' Questions (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: The IMF is not in town.

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senators for their amendments. We are all here to do the same thing, which is to try to ensure that mortgage holders are protected regardless of who owns their mortgage book. That is the very reason the Government is bringing forward this legislation, and it is eager to work with the Houses of the Oireachtas to ensure that it can be enacted as quickly as possible. I will...

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Cullinane and other Senators for their broad based support for the Bill. We are all united on what we are trying to do, that is, provide a level of protection which they do not have today to mortgage holders whose mortgage books have been sold, and that is what we need to get on with doing. I do not just believe that the amendment is unnecessary. Rather, it would...

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senators Wilson and O'Brien for the amendment. From the discussion on it on previous Stages in the Dáil, I understand its aim is to ensure that the consumer is correctly informed and protected, but I am not accepting it for reasons I will now outline. It seeks to impose obligations on credit servicing and other firms regarding credit which is sold. The first set of...

Seanad: Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Wilson for his amendment. This issue was also discussed on Committee and Report Stages in the Dáil and I am glad to have the opportunity to again reassure the Seanad on this matter. I should make it clear to the House that the intent was always that an existing regulated financial service provider authorised to provide credit and already undertaking credit servicing...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (30 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: The Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Clare County Council (CCC) as the contracting authority under its powers, and with funding and advice as appropriate from the Office of Public Works (OPW). I am informed that CCC has been engaging constructively with landowners affected by the proposed scheme and while these discussions have taken somewhat longer than anticipated,...

Topical Issues: Tax Code (25 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Creighton for raising this matter. I want to assure her there is nothing ideological about this from the Government's perspective, as she has suggested. The Government has to make choices in regard to how it brings in income to run the State and provide vital services. I was not suggesting that income tax and capital acquisitions tax were the same. I was merely suggesting...

Topical Issues: Tax Code (25 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I apologise that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, cannot be here, as he is still in Brussels. However, I am very pleased to be here. I do not believe capital acquisitions tax, CAT, is a tax only on the super-wealthy. It has an impact on many normal families in terms of the inheritance of family homes. CAT applies to the beneficiary of a...

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: It was worse when the Deputy was in government.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Staff (25 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I am informed by the Commissioners of Public Works that formal procedures and processes in relation to allegations of bullying made by the persons referred to are ongoing. In the circumstances, it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (25 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that there are no current plans to extend the playground at Kilkenny Castle. When the existing playground at Kilkenny Castle was constructed in 2008, consideration was given to the differing development needs, ability, and age range of young people. This resulted in the inclusion of a cradle swing and two basket swings, which are...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (25 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: The Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme is focused on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (or “AFAs”) countrywide, and is the principal vehicle for implementing national policy on flood risk management and the European Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risk (2007/EC/60). Further information is available on the Programme website . ...

Credit Unions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I am aware of that.

Credit Unions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I am a member.

Credit Unions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: There is a process with the liquidator.

Credit Unions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I am grateful to have an opportunity to respond to this debate and to contribute some of my own thoughts on the issue. I have no intention of engaging in any sort of partisan comments. That is unnecessary and is not what those in the Visitors Gallery came to hear last night or tonight. This is too important an issue. I accept the sincerity of Members on all sides of this House. There is...

Credit Unions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: That is unfair.

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage Resolution Processes (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue and I thank Deputy Coppinger for raising it. The code of conduct on mortgage arrears, CCMA, provides a strong consumer protection framework to ensure that borrowers struggling to keep up mortgage repayments are treated in a fair and transparent manner by their lender, and that long-term resolution is sought by lenders with each of...

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage Resolution Processes (24 Jun 2015)

Simon Harris: Nobody has a monopoly on concern. Deputies on all sides of this House are concerned about mortgage arrears. We all see the issue in our clinics and communities but it is not fair to say nothing is being done because the Central Bank statistics show that 117,000 family home mortgages had been restructured by the end of quarter one of this year. Those are real people, some I would guess in...