Results 43,441-43,460 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: This amendment reverses the amendment to section 48(1) and the insertion of section 48(1)(a) that were included in the Bill, as initiated. Amendment No. 10, which has been agreed, amends section 13 of the Act to accommodate what was originally intended in the Bill. Moving the amendment to section 13 takes account of concerns raised about the commissioner dictating the method through which a...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: This is a technical amendment. Section 50 of the 2001 Act involves the use of a method of valuation known as the contractor's method, which relies on the notional cost of constructing or providing a property. When employing this method the net annual value equates to 5% of the aggregate costs, depreciated where appropriate, of the property in addition to the site value. This amendment...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Quinn and other speakers for their contributions on this matter. The very purpose of the Bill is to speed up the process of valuation and revaluation in order that retailers, suppliers, owners, occupiers and others who find themselves in a premises with an unfair valuation know that the premises will be revalued quicker than is currently the case. This general principle runs...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: This is a technical amendment to delete a reference to section 15(3), which has been deleted from the Valuation Act 2001 by the Local Government Reform Act 2014.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: In the spirit of co-operation I am delighted to have the opportunity to respond to the Senator. As I outlined to the House in our debates on Committee Stage of the Bill, my officials have been engaging in a constructive manner with the Irish Hotels Federation regarding its concerns. Although I believe these concerns are addressed adequately in the legislation, I asked the federation to make...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: This amendment provides the commissioner, his officers or persons acting on his behalf with powers to serve a notice on other parties who may be in a position to supply information on a property that enables him to carry out his functions under the 2001 Act. Heretofore this compellability was confined to owners or occupiers, whereas a significant number of other parties, including property...

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: This amendment is technical in nature and its purpose is simply to improve the wording of the Bill. It tidies up the original wording but there is no difference in intent from the Bill as originally published.

Seanad: Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Reilly for the amendment. The amendments to section 47 contained in the Bill were technical in nature and provided that those acting on behalf of the commissioner on a contracted basis also had the power to enter a property should it be required. In practice, this power is rarely used by the Valuation Office, which cannot recall an instance in recent years where it has been...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: In 2010 Mayo County Council submitted an application for funding under the Office of Public Works (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for works to prevent water infiltration through the river walls on the left bank of the river in Ballina in the vicinity of Batchelor's Walk. The application was not approved as it is OPW's view that other factors may be...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Garda Station Refurbishment (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: Apart from some minor snagging that will be carried out this week, these works are completed.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: It is a matter for Kerry County Council, in the first instance, to investigate and address flooding issues in the County. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has no flood defence assets in Ballylongford and, therefore, has no direct responsibility for maintaining or improving existing flood defences. However, Ballylongford was identified through the national Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. The Office of Public Works (OPW) allocated substantial funding of €180,000 to Kerry County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme in 2012 for embankment strengthening works at Cromane and Incherea. This funding has now been drawn down by the Council. The Government Decision of 11...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Drainage Schemes Expenditure (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: As outlined to the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 89 of 18 September 2014, the Office of Public Works (OPW) commenced repair works on embankments at the location referred to at Callinafercy West, Milltown, Co. Kerry earlier this year, following the tidal storm surge of 3 January. These flood defences are within the Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme, which is under the care of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (22 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works (OPW) commenced repair works on embankments at Callinafercy West, Milltown, Co. Kerry earlier this year, following the tidal storm surge of 3 January. These flood defences are within the Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme, which is under the care of the OPW. The Office hopes to have four excavators carry out works on OPW flood defence embankments at Callinafercy...

Order of Business (21 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: Deputy Adams should listen to the question, which is whether he believes Maíria Cahill or not.

Order of Business (21 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The victim is making the assertion.

Order of Business (21 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: Deputy Adams is not the victim.

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: It has not.

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: They are scaring people.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Projects (21 Oct 2014)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works (OPW) will be continuing and improving its present activities at this site to effect greater efficiencies for the long term.