Results 43,561-43,580 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Irish Collective Asset-Management Vehicles Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: It has to be one or the other, and this is simply outlining that if one is an AIF, one has not gone through the UCITS regulations. One needs to go through this process to be authorised as an ICAV.

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Irish Collective Asset-Management Vehicles Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: It is more favourable from the investor's point of view but it does not impact negatively on the Irish taxpayer because it allows the investor, and I am sure this will arise later, to avail of the check the box rule in the United States which allows the investor to be taxed on an ongoing basis instead of deferring a tax and being taxed at a higher rate in the US afterwards. The big benefit...

Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Finance: Irish Collective Asset-Management Vehicles Bill 2014: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I wish to flag to the committee that this is an area on which I may bring amendments on Report Stage. It concerns changes to the instrument of incorporation and I will revert to the committee on Report Stage.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Properties (11 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: There are 63 recorded deaths in Kilmainham Gaol in the relevant Famine period. It is not clear however that any of these deaths are directly attributable to famine causes and cannot therefore be definitively described as such. While the figure would seem low compared to the number of deaths throughout the country at the time, it possibly reflects that, bad though the conditions were in the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: National Monuments (11 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: There are no proposals currently for a new carpark to be provided at the Dun Aonghusa site on Inis Mór. Dun Aonghusa is an extremely popular tourist destination and attracted 105,539 visitors in 2013.During busy summer months in particular, this causes a certain amount of congestion at the site, particularly on the private access road leading from the nearby public road to the visitor...

Finance Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I would like to pick up on the point on which Deputy Michael Creed left off, in regard to the potential for a dialogue of the deaf. While it may seem like that, I have attended this debate over the past three days and I believe it has largely been a constructive engagement. It was unfair of Deputy Róisín Shortall to suggest that Government Deputies did not participate. The list...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to hear that Deputy McDonald hopes to attend the Meet the Buyer event. I have made a point of inviting every Member of the Oireachtas to the event and if the Deputy is not in a position to attend there will be more events. It is very important to allow an opportunity for SMEs to interact first-hand with the public service buyers and for us as policy-makers to see that...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I agree with much of what the Deputy says and she is correct. Aside from capital projects the State spends about €23 million a day on purchasing goods and services. It is a very significant contribution to the domestic economy and to the flow of money around the domestic economy. There is also an issue with SMEs needing to know that the public procurement process is open to them....

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her question and I note her ongoing interest in issues of procurement. The main purpose of the EU public procurement regime is to open up the market and ensure the free movement of supplies, services and works within the EU, having regard to Treaty of Rome principles including transparency, proportionality and equal treatment. This is the rationale that shapes the...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: I know that the Deputy has highlighted the issue, including during Private Members' time on Fridays. I accept her bona fides in bringing the issue to the House. I have asked the Office for Government Procurement to look into the matter when considering the implementation of the directive. The directive obliges us to give consideration to how we wish to adhere to "applicable obligations"...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The Deputy correctly notes the limitations on what I can say about specific cases. However, I am very happy to say that we have quite a robust suite of labour law. In the procurement area, I want to ensure that in transposing these directives we deal adequately with all of these issues. Obviously the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has overall responsibility for employment...

Other Questions: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Some of my prepared reply is the same as I have already outlined, so I will take that as noted regarding the objectives of the EU directives. The Office of Government Procurement is currently exploring policy choices as part of the transposition process. In this context, I have launched a public consultation on the new directives. It is open to everybody - not just specific people - to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (6 Nov 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. Of this sum of €69.5 million, up to €19.6 million was allocated for repair of existing coastal protection and flood defence...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Severe Weather Events Expenditure (6 Nov 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. Of this sum of €69.5 million, up to €19.6 million was allocated for repair of existing coastal protection and flood defences based on...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Office of Public Works Projects (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The Government Decision of 11th 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 13th December 2013 to 6th January 2014. Of this sum of €69.5 million, up to €19.6 million was allocated for repair of existing coastal protection and flood defences based...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Risk Assessments (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: Many of the areas that experienced significant damage as a result of tidal or river flooding in the past year would be included under the CFRAM studies. However, it cannot be said that every area that experienced flooding is so included. The CFRAM programme is assessing in detail 300 areas of potentially significant flood risk known as Areas for Further Assessment or AFAs. These 300 AFAs,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Protection (6 Nov 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 as a result of severe weather in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014. Of this sum of €69.5 million, up to €19.6 million was allocated for repair of existing coastal protection...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flooding Data (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works (OPW) does not systematically gather or collate data on the number of houses which have experienced flooding. The OPW would receive information and data on significant flood events from a number of sources including Local Authorities, the consultants undertaking the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) projects on behalf of the OPW and members of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is not aware of any project at the embankments in question at Ballynacally and Kildysart, County Clare. I am advised that these embankments were constructed by the former Land Commission and, as such, the OPW does not have any responsibility in this area.

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (6 Nov 2014)

Simon Harris: The Office of Public Works has not, to date, received an application from Clare County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for works at Thomond Villas, Clarecastle, County Clare. Should an application be received it will be will be considered having regard to the relevant eligibility criteria of the Scheme and the overall availability of resources for...