Results 43,041-43,060 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Drainage Schemes (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: The current permanent staffing on the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme is 4. It is hoped to recruit an additional 4 seasonal workers to this scheme during the summer months, subject to the availability of the necessary funding. These posts would be publicly advertised.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: An Garda Síochána has confirmed that the property in question is an operational Garda station.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Projects (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 to 215, inclusive, together. The information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated. A comprehensive response will issue to the Deputy on the above questions directly.

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Byrne for his engagement on the Bill. Obviously I disagree fundamentally with the way he has set out the position, but I do not intend to get caught up in a debate on other legislation that is before the House and will be coming back before the House later this afternoon. I think it is extremely important that we pass the Appropriation Bill 2014 to ensure that on 1 and 2...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to introduce the Appropriation Bill 2014. This Bill serves two primary purposes. In the first place, the Appropriation Bill is necessary to authorise in law all of the expenditure that has been undertaken in 2014 on the basis of the Estimates that have already been voted on by the Dáil during the year. The amounts included in section 1 and Schedule 1 to the Bill, to be...

Seanad: Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: The Bill was not amended.

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: In opposing the section the Deputy misses the point; this is the section that will ensure public servants, pensioners and those in receipt of disability and jobseeker's allowance are paid. The Deputy has picked the wrong part of the Bill to oppose because while he can take comfort from the fact that he will be paid from the Central Fund in January, all of the people I have mentioned -...

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I cannot let the assertion of bluffing go unchallenged. I could make pointed comments but I will not, given the limited time available. The Deputy should not try to drag me into a row that he has been trying to keep going for well over a week. The Haddington Road agreement reached with the public sector unions was clear-cut in how it went about its business. It made it clear where the...

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: Sorry to interrupt, but we never used to have a debate on this Bill and did not have it when Fianna Fáil was in government.

Appropriation Bill 2014: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I reject the assertion that the Minister, Deputy Howlin, is hostile in regard to the provision of information. He has done a lot to ensure there is more information available than there was, including in regard to freedom of information and has rowed back on the curtailment introduced by Fianna Fáil. He has enhanced the legislation to ensure there is more openness in regard to...

Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I have a lot to get through in five minutes and I am not sure where to start. I found a lot of Deputy Fleming's contribution quite disingenuous. There is no new policy in this Bill. The Deputy is around this House a lot longer than I am and he knows the Appropriation Bill gives technical effect to issues that have been debated to the Nth degree in this House and have been voted on and...

Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I do not get the connection with the Bill.

Appropriation Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Appropriation Bill 2014 is an essential element of financial housekeeping that, as Deputies are aware, must be concluded by the Dáil this year. The Bill serves two primary purposes. First, the Appropriation Bill is necessary to authorise in law all of the expenditure that has been undertaken in 2014 on the basis of the Estimates...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: It is matter for Fingal County Council (FCC) in the first instance to investigate and address flooding issues in the County. It is understood that the recent flooding in the Howth and Sutton areas was due primarily to the inability of the local surface water drainage infrastructure to deal with the very intense rainfall that occurred. Any flooding resulting from inadequate storm water...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coast Guard Services (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: Subject to confirmation of funding from the Irish Coastguard Service, it is expected that a contract for works at Waterville Coastguard Station will be placed early in 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together. The Office of Public Works has responsibility for approximately 11,500 km of arterial drainage channels nationally, with about 2,200 km of these being subject to routine maintenance each year across the country as part of an ongoing programme of arterial drainage maintenance of schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts. This...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Status (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together. The Office of Public Works has responsibility for approximately 11,500 km of arterial drainage channels nationally, with about 2,200 km of these being subject to routine maintenance each year across the country as part of an ongoing programme of arterial drainage maintenance of schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Acts. This...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: The Government Decision of 11 February 2014 allocated total funding of up to €69.5 million for clean-up, repair and restoration works in relation to public infrastructure that was damaged in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014 based on submissions and cost estimates made by the local authorities concerned to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Stations (18 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: The OPW has conducted a review of State owned sites in the area to identify any suitable sites for the development of a new Garda Station in Bailieborough.  As no suitable State owned site is available, it is intended that a notice will shortly be placed in local and national media seeking offers of suitable sites. The Office of Public Works advances the provision of facilities for An...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Insurance Cover (16 Dec 2014)

Simon Harris: In March 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Insurance Ireland, the representative body for the insurance industry in Ireland, and the Office of Public Works. This Memorandum sets out principles of how the two organisations will work together to ensure that appropriate and relevant information on completed OPW flood defence schemes is provided to insurers to facilitate, to...