Results 44,281-44,300 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Am I correct to say that if a parliamentary question is now asked about Irish Water, the question will be forwarded to Irish Water for a response?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Would Mr. Tierney be eager to engage in that?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Irish Water will not be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General but by a private audit firm. NAMA is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. At any stage during the process of developing Irish Water was there a discussion where it was decided to use private auditors rather than the Comptroller and Auditor General, and what was the rationale behind that?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Can we return to the bonuses issue? After 48 hours of intensive engagement with Oireachtas committees we should try not to leave any loose ends. I am sure the witnesses would welcome that also. We have heard mixed signals, reports and media comments on the bonuses issue today. There is a view that has been expressed in the media by Government representatives that bonuses should not be...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Is Mr. Tierney satisfied with the terminology "bonuses"?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Correct.

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: I thank the witnesses for agreeing to come before us. Mr. Tierney and his colleagues had a comprehensive discussion with the Joint Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government yesterday but today's meeting has helped me to understand the interactions between the three bodies, who is accountable and who knew what and when. In an era when we are eager to provide transparency...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Has the regulator's capacity been beefed up, for want of a better phrase?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Is Mr. McGowan satisfied that his office has adequate capacity to undertake the work required from it?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: We got considerable detail from Ms Graham and Ms Tallon on the weekly interactions, the role they played and the introduction of the concept of a ceiling. The word "consultant" has been bandied around. It is the "c" word - people have a different conception of what a consultant does, in terms of writing reports as opposed to providing an asset. When the Department was defining the ceiling...

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: The charge has been levelled in some quarters that the Department and Irish Water knew that €50 million was being spent on consultants. That is not my understanding, however. They knew that €50 million was the ceiling that could be spent on external services. Is that the correct interpretation?

Public Accounts Committee: Oversight of Irish Water: Discussion (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: Ms Tallon referred to an interrogation of the proposals put to the Department over a two month period. Was there a change in the proposal or was Ms Graham satisfied with its robustness? Did she suggest that external services would not be needed? Could she give us an insight into that?

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: 44. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his view on the talks chaired by Dr. Richard Haass into contentious issues in Northern Ireland; his views on the proposals put to all parties in Northern Ireland; the way he expects the issue to now progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1118/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Collection (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: 151. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of households who have not confirmed their payment method for the local property tax excluding those who have opted for deferred payment; the way Revenue intends to pursue defaulters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1549/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Collection (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: 152. To ask the Minister for Finance the way in which the Revenue Commissioners intend to pursue defaulters of the €100 household charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1550/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policy Reviews (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: 199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the review being undertaken in relation to Irish language exemption; if consideration will be given to children with Autism and Asperger's syndrome; when he expects this review to be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55480/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil Data Collection (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: 214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he proposes to take to ensure that there are adequate primary school places in an area (details supplied) for this September; the number of primary school places that are available in that area; the number of children that will be in need of a school place in that area this September based on data his Department uses to project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil Data Collection (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: 215. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the data his Department uses to determine the number of school places required in an area (details supplied); and based on that data the number of school places at primary level that will be required in that area for the next school year commencing in September 20014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1004/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: 216. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the implementation of the action plan on bullying for schools; the actions that have been taken to progress the implementation of the following recommendations contained within the plan; new national anti-bullying policy for schools, review of teacher education support service provision, co-ordinated training...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Applications (15 Jan 2014)

Simon Harris: 257. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the applications that have been made from local authorities (details supplied) to the OPW in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for projects to alleviate flooding; the amount sought in each application; the status of each application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1108/14]