Results 44,801-44,820 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I return to the point Deputy Paschal Donohoe made. While this meeting was alluded to by Ms Moylan when she appeared before the committee, this is the first time that we have seen the minutes of the meeting, or the notes arising from it. It is likely we will need to hear from Ms Moylan again. I am extremely concerned that Ms Moylan, who is the most senior planning official in the Department...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I agree with the proposal of Deputies Sean Fleming and Donohoe. In correspondence to the HSE, I would like to ask about the review mechanisms used. We have come across the HSE reviewing those with terminal illnesses in respect of their eligibility for medical cards. They are obviously not applying the same level of review to the funds paid to GPs if there is inactivity and the GP is still...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (20 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I read the letter from the solicitors of Mr. FitzPatrick. It mentions trusting that we will understand his position but I do not understand his position. However, not being legally qualified, I wonder if the committee can seek legal opinion on this. When we set out on this inquiry, we envisaged this potential problem with people not wishing to appear before the committee or saying they are...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Data Retention (19 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 219. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure the continued preservation of guthrie cards that have the potential to provide a life-saving genetic diagnosis to at-risk family members of young sudden cardiac death victims following his decision to halt the destruction of the cards last March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29581/13]

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I do not have a difficulty with the assurance and the issue of the leaking is fine. They are separate issues to those which the Chairman has dealt with. It is very important to state as a Government member of the committee that if we want to explore this more it is very clear to anybody looking from the outside in and to colleagues on the committee, that Government members of the committee...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I attach my name to that too.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I have read the Department of Finance Circular 6/1959, which states "[w]here a member of the Government travels either as a representative of the Government or on the business of his Department and he decides that it is necessary in the public interest that he should be accompanied by his wife" - I presume that should also include "husband" but perhaps it was a sign of the times - "for the...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: Correct, but I am concerned with the trip in respect of which the Chairman has been unable to give us information. He made an impassioned contribution but during 2008, the only full year in which he was a Minister of State, a parliamentary question on foreign and domestic travel and subsistence claims by individual Ministers or Ministers of State indicates, to the best of my knowledge, that...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I studied them all.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: This is the only full 12-month period in which he was a Minister of State.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: My aim is very clear. Even when we were dealing with the issue of his office I have always been fair in asking for comparisons. I never wanted to take his office in isolation. I am presenting a comparison with every other Minister and Minister of State during the 12 months in question. These is the only 12-month period I can consider because he was not a Minister of State for any other...

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: Therefore, the Deputy himself made the choice that his wife's costs of travelling abroad should be met by the Department.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: Okay. In hindsight, does he regret that?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: That is all we can have.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I wish to ask some brief questions. On how many occasions did the Deputy travel abroad with his spouse in his role as a Minister of State?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: Were they all paid for by the taxpayer?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: Were each of the trips St. Patrick's Day trips?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: So it was not a St. Patrick's Day trip.

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: Does Deputy McGuinness know what it was?

Public Accounts Committee: Statement by Chairman (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: My understanding of the guidelines from reading the pretty comprehensive freedom of information file is that the view at the time was that the Department could pay if one's spouse travelled abroad on a St. Patrick's Day trip but the Department did not pay for trade trips. Then there is the vague area of exceptional circumstances.