Results 43,001-43,020 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: One can appeal to a tribunal, but I am just getting clarity on that because it refers to an earlier section. On the amendment, the current legislation entitles a broad set of persons to lodge an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. Those entitled would include rating authorities, landlords, an interest-holder in a property and other ratepayers in the rating authority area. In the context of...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I pay tribute to Senators in this House, to my own officials and to the interest groups, particularly the Irish Hotels Federation and the Society of Chartered Surveyors, for their interaction on a subject that generated much debate in this House on Committee Stage, namely, the interpretation of the new section 19(5) and whether an occupier's right to appeal was in any way restricted. In...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank all Senators for their contributions. I thank Senators Quinn and Barrett for proposing this amendment. I will begin by reading the formal response. An occupier already has the right under section 27 of the Valuation Act 2001 to seek a review or a revision of the rateable value of his or her property. A rating authority may also apply to the valuation commissioner for a revision of...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senators Quinn and Barrett for this amendment. I have tried to explore and discuss it rationally. The issue of profitability and how it interacts with the rates system was discussed on Committee Stage. I made the point that it is the job of the Valuation Office to attach a value to a building. It is then through other agency interactions that the amount to be paid is arrived at....

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: This amendment was discussed on Committee Stage. This is a rates issue and measures have already been taken earlier this year by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in this regard. The Local Government Reform Act 2014, enacted in January, introduced a repeal of subsequent occupier liability, the effect of which removed the liability placed on new occupiers of...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I have looked positively on this amendment but I do not see a need for it. The members of the Valuation Tribunal are appointed by the Minister and are independent of the Valuation Office. In general, the members have either a legal or a professional valuation background, as these are the skills-sets most appropriate to the work of the tribunal. I see the validity of this amendment in the...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (20 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Byrne for his kind words. I am not afraid to admit my views last year in a referendum which the Government gave a commitment to hold. I am a democrat, which I hope everybody in both Houses of the Oireachtas is. I found the debate in the House on the first piece of legislation with which I have substantively dealt to have been very productive. I hope that following Report...

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Hear, hear.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Since when?

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: We will ask Maíria Cahill what she thinks of that assertion.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: He might stage a sit-in.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Hear, hear.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Hear, hear.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Can the Deputy repeat that?

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I am not immediately able to answer your question.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Hear, hear.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: That is an unfair comment.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is making an accusation of bias.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The Deputy's party caused a sit-in.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Finance Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The European Commission advised the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that farm restructuring relief, which is currently given to farm buildings, contravenes EU state aid rules. Considering that this was a relief for farm consolidation, if property were to be included, it would be, in the view of the Commissioner, a move away from farming. It would also have to be extended...