Results 44,521-44,540 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Alternative Energy Projects (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 179. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the current status of the foreshore lease granted in respect of the 220 turbine wind farm at Codling Bank off the coast of County Wicklow; when same was granted; the process undertaken when granting such a foreshore lease; if his Department expects construction works to begin in the near...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Foreshore Licences Appeals (4 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 180. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the controls his Department can exert to review or rescind a previously granted foreshore lease; the situations in which such a review may occur; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32785/13]

Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: Stick to the script.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Referendum (2 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: I very much welcome the advancement of a Seanad referendum, which was a commitment the Taoiseach personally, and both parties in government, gave in advance of the election and I am pleased to see it progressing. The Taoiseach spoke about the establishment of a referendum commission. It is important that the commission is up and running at an early stage but considering the number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Seanad Referendum (2 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 12. To ask the Taoiseach his plans to hold a referendum to abolish Seanad Éireann. [31844/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (2 Jul 2013)

Simon Harris: 393. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that have been taken to ensure that the delays encountered by students applying for the third level grant have been rectified; the additional resources that have been allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32162/13]

Prison Development (Confirmation of Resolutions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I wish to share time with Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick.

Prison Development (Confirmation of Resolutions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I will always remember, a number of years ago when I was a teenager growing up in Greystones, attending a presentation by the then Governor of Mountjoy Prison, Mr. John Lonergan. He said that if he was handed a map of Dublin city, he would be able to identify five small areas from which he was likely to see the bulk of the population of...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I have never corresponded directly with the EPA on this issue, but in conversations with others and correspondence I have reviewed people talked about the original waste permit having been lodged with the EPA and, therefore, the EPA being aware of the issues involved.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: That is perfect. My understanding of the EPA's involvement or knowledge is exactly as Ms Burke said, that it hold a registers that indicates that this permit has been issued. Therefore, if it was destroyed, removed or disappeared, it would still be lodged in her offices. The Ballybeg issue concerns me, but the broader point is that these are serious issues and allegations and everybody...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I do not wish to delay the meeting. To draw this matter to a conclusion, when former Deputy Liz McManus raised it in the House, the Minister of State of the day said the Department had arranged for all departmental records recently released under the Freedom of Information Acts to be furnished to the then cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council with the strong recommendation that they be...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I thank Ms Tallon.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: What is the actual figure estimated for the cost of remediation at Whitestown?

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I have a specific and broader question for the Secretary General. An understandable letter of comfort has been written to Wicklow County Council and, one can only presume, other county councils. To be clear, I am very supportive of the proactive approach the Department is taking to rectify the illegal dumping situation and to respond to the European Court judgment. However, on 24 June 2011...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: It is an astonishing sum of money. Again, I want to acknowledge and put on the record of this committee the good work I believe the Department is doing in dealing with these serious issues at a European level. I will now move to an area in which I do not feel it is doing as good a job, which is, again, an issue I was directly involved with during my time on Wicklow County Council and which...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I am sure that is the case, and that is fine. However, the situation is that the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government knows of this request from Wicklow County Council. It acknowledged the request which came from a senior level. I cannot remember the exact signature on the letter, but the acknowledgement came from a pretty senior level in the Department....

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I will read it to Ms Tallon. This appeared on the RTE news website on Friday, 15 March. The Department of the Environment has said this evening that figures on the level of unpaid development levies that it issued to Fine Gael TD Simon Harris earlier this week do not take account of levies that local authorities have written off as bad debts. It said when bad debts are take account of the...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I do not mean to be pedantic, but-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I am quite happy with that. Not to be pedantic, but all of the five figures I cited are departmental figures from the same Department. That is the cause of my frustration.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: From my perspective, I am looking for the current amount of outstanding development levies from developments that have materialised and developments that the local authorities expect to materialise, the amount of outstanding levies that appear on paper in respect of developments that will likely never materialise, and the amount of development levies written off as bad debts. It would be a...