Results 44,361-44,380 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: This is very helpful. Has there been a change in the information required to be submitted online when dealing with people living in the United Kingdom for the past 30 years but who have a property here? They do not have PPS numbers, but they were able to pay the charge online for the half year period without a problem. The website is now looking for a PIN, a property ID and a PPS number.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Local Property Tax: Discussion with Revenue (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: I thank Ms Feehily for attending today. What advice would she give to people who believe they should have received a letter from Revenue and still have not received a letter?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: Mr. Neilan told me that the total amount was €600,000. He has mentioned contracts amounting to approximately €354,000. Does he want to provide a breakdown of the remaining contracts?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: I welcome those improvements. I am glad that action is being taken on foot of the Comptroller and Auditor General's recommendations. That is positive to hear. I would like to mention two more matters. I will be very brief. I know that there have been a number of attempted break-ins - they were unsuccessful, fortunately - and that crimes have been detected with regard to cash management...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: That is very impressive research. Bord na gCon must have a good research unit.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: Okay.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: That is all fine and admirable and no one has a difficulty with that. However, the two questions relating to this issue remain. Could the interests of the industry, the board's bank balance and ultimately the taxpayer been better protected if Mr Neilan had taken the advice of the engineer and the solicitor to include the fill in the contract? Second, when that failed to happen and was not...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: I have one final question on the Limerick project. In my experience, solicitors do not write letters and project managers do not prepare letters unless they believe those letters or their advice is sought. Therefore, Mr. Neilan's solicitors must have presumed or heard from him that he wanted to include or was considering including this condition in the contract. Equally, presumably the...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: Yes, but your solicitor provided you with advice. Presumably that advice was solicited. Presumably Mr. Neil sought their advice on the contract.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: Yes, but it did not appear in the contract.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: Fine. I thank Mr. Neilan for his answers but I am still at sixes and sevens as to why, when his engineer told him to put in it and his solicitor drafted it up as a requirement of the contract, he signed a contract that did not include it. I will move on because I do not think we can advance this matter any further at present. The next issue I wish to deal with is procurement, most...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: You now have a new procurement officer.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: Is that officer here?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: Does Mr. Neilan have a handle on the number of instances of non-compliance in 2011 and the value of those contracts?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: The engineers advice was that those works upon the site and throughout the site that are to be undertaken in advance of taking possession should be specified in the contract. Were they specified in the contract?

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: We know the engineers made that comment and I take Mr. Neilan's response on board. Five days later on 27 November, the solicitors wrote to say they noted the requirement for a condition to be inserted in the contract providing that the vendor will be obliged to apply for a fill licence and that under that licence will fill the site at the stadium and car parking area at the vendors cost to a...

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: This is where I am confused. Mr. Neilan said there was no legal requirement. The only reason there was no legal requirement was that it was not in the contract. Before he signed the contract, he got to decide what he wished to put in the contract on his side. The vendor on its side then signed the contract.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: The reason it was not a legal requirement was that it was not in the contract and yet his engineers suggested it should be in it and his solicitors clearly stated that they would draft a condition to insert into the contract. None of that happened.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: That is crystal clear.

Public Accounts Committee: Bord na gCon - Annual Accounts 2011 (7 Nov 2013)

Simon Harris: I agree it is crystal clear that it was not a legal condition and that it was not in the contract but the reason we are having this conversation is that it was not in the contact. Mr. Neilan decided to have what is termed as "a gentleman's agreement". When the engineers said it should be specified and when the solicitors were drafting a condition to insert into the contract, why did it not...