Results 43,941-43,960 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (13 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: I respect that.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (12 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: 70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the issue of isolation or withdrawal rooms in ASD units in national schools here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7044/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (12 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: 71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the number of schools that have constructed small, safe spaces as per the school design guide for ASD units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7045/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (12 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: 72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider mandatory training for teachers assigned to ASD units in national schools. [7046/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (12 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: 164. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to ban the removal of the dew claw from dogs considering this practice is already banned by the national vets body; if he will consider introducing such a ban in animal welfare legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6966/14]

Leaders' Questions (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: The Garda is reassured-----

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Pensions Legislation (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: 170. To ask the Minister for Finance the reason pension retirement bonds are not allowed by the Revenue Commissioners to qualify for the approved retirement fund; if such bonds resulted from a pension scheme which did not allow the approved retirement fund option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6728/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (11 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: 215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports in place from his Department for apprentices here; the rationale behind the flat fee for apprentices attending institutes of technology during their apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6621/14]

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: I wish to comment, without referring to the specifics of the letter, considering it is an issue about St. Vincent's Healthcare Group. I am sure that many members are continuing to receive - as I am - anonymous letters relating to the St. Vincent's Healthcare Group. I would ask that it not just be referred to the St. Vincent's Healthcare Group but also referred to the HSE. St. Vincent's...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: My proposal is that the HSE provides us with a very urgent update on each of the 44 section 38 bodies, as it has previously done in November. I want to know if they are compliant and if they are not compliant then what is happening. I presume that the HSE will be back in with us soon.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: The meeting was held in private at the request of the whistleblower. Sergeant McCabe asked to meet us in a private forum. If, as Deputy Murphy stated, he and his legal team wish to check aspects of the transcript, that would be a different matter and I would be interested in finding out if there is a facility for his legal team to listen to what was said. That is not exactly what we are...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: The Deputy cannot make that proposal.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: With respect, it is not a valid proposal because the committee does not have the power, under the rules of the House, to produce the transcript.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (6 Feb 2014)

Simon Harris: I largely agree with the point made by Deputy Deasy. We were given very clear legal advice at that private meeting to the effect that if a transcript were to be released under any circumstances, elements of it would be required to be redacted as a result of comments that were made by both the witness and members. It would be absurd to release the transcript without at the very least seeking...

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 6 - Land Swap Arrangement in the Provision of Affordable Houses
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (30 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: I presume the OPW would have been involved in the process around drawing up of the contract and would the staff have expressed concerns or have been very confident they could meet the 2008 deadline of vacant possession?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 6 - Land Swap Arrangement in the Provision of Affordable Houses
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (30 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: The OPW is the body for property management and I presume it would have said that it would aim to meet the target, but with a short window, one would have imagined that when the contract was being drawn up that concern would have been reflected and that a safeguard should have been put into the contract. Would that be fair?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 6 - Land Swap Arrangement in the Provision of Affordable Houses
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (30 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Why was the deadline for vacant possession set for the end of 2008?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 6 - Land Swap Arrangement in the Provision of Affordable Houses
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (30 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Was the developer looking for that condition?

Public Accounts Committee: 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 6 - Land Swap Arrangement in the Provision of Affordable Houses
Vote 13 - Office of Public Works (30 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: This is my final question for Ms McGrath. In respect of 6.19 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, the commitment given was that the Garda station would not close until the St. Kevin Street Garda station was constructed, which seems to be the nub of the problem because the OPW could not close down that station until it provided another station. Who gave that commitment?