Results 44,841-44,860 of 46,456 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: No. I am just clarifying the situation. It is fair to say that certain Ministers, including the Deputy's then senior Minister, the current Leader of Fianna Fáil, did not bring their wives on official business and when they were accompanied abroad on St. Patrick's Day by their spouses, they paid for them. The point I am making is that it was not that under the guidelines the Department...

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McGuinness for being here. This a difficult issue for all members to deal with.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authority Funding (13 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 111. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the powers that municipal district councils will have in respect of the setting rates; if municipal districts will have a specifically allocated budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28442/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Black Economy Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 140. To ask the Minister for Finance the measures in place to address the black economy; the consequences for involvement from procurement to purchase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28014/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Credit Ratings (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 141. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has given consideration to putting in place a creditworthiness database or measure of similar constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28015/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: VAT Rates Reductions (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 213. To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated benefit to the overall economy, the hospitality sector and to the employment sector of the 9% VAT rate for tourism, hospitality and entertainment sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28021/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 253. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a problem being experienced by a primary school (details supplied) in County Wicklow in accessing an internet provider and the problems this is causing for a school that heavily utilises the internet interactive white boards, payroll, school attendance and so on; and the actions being taken by his Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 258. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has received any correspondence from representatives of professional organisations or academics warning of inadequacies in his Department's autism policy with regard to applied behaviour analysis; the steps he has taken to meet these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26911/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 329. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that are in place regarding the training of persons for the retail and hospitality sectors; his plans regarding the advancement of this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28019/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 473. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the labour activation measures that are in place to encourage persons to take on seasonal work; the provision in place to allow persons to move from unemployment to seasonal work without impact on welfare entitlement when seasonal employment ends; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28012/13]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: National Postcode System Establishment (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 540. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if measures relating to the introduction of a postal code system are currently under consideration; the expected implications of the introduction of this system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28016/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 643. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the measures currently being taken or that are being planned to ensure that local authorities have the knowledge and skill to address the needs of the changing retails environment in cities and towns here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28011/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Upward Only Rent Reviews (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 752. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current position regarding upward only rent reviews; the measures that are planned to address the difficulty of many small businesses in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28013/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 753. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to address the delays in short term or visiting visa applications; if there are any measures under consideration in relation to a specific visitors visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28017/13]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Policy (11 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 1116. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to build on the success of the Gathering; the efforts under consideration regarding the building of a brand Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28018/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Non-Disclosure Provisions Under the Freedom of Information Act: Discussion with Information Commissioner (5 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I want to take Ms O'Reilly to her current report in order to educate me on it. I find it astonishing, in relation to health, for example, that there are 28 issues the Department is seeking to exclude. Of those, Ms O'Reilly disagrees with the Department on 22. That works out at approximately 80% of cases in respect of which she has a different view from the Department. With regard to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Non-Disclosure Provisions Under the Freedom of Information Act: Discussion with Information Commissioner (5 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: By implication, is Ms O'Reilly expressing concern that lobbying by professional bodies, which she recognises is their right, is skewing the view of Departments in their interpretation of the Freedom of Information Act?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Non-Disclosure Provisions Under the Freedom of Information Act: Discussion with Information Commissioner (5 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: The witnesses have touched on NAMA. Given the way the situation is developing, are they satisfied that we will end up getting the information the public desires or requires from NAMA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Non-Disclosure Provisions Under the Freedom of Information Act: Discussion with Information Commissioner (5 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I have four questions. I refer Ms O'Reilly to her opening statement on her last review and the report to the committee in 2006. I want to tease this out a little. There is clearly a procedural issue or, to use Deputy McDonald's phrase, a cultural issue. If there were 150 occasions on which the Office of the Information Commissioner disagreed with the Department's interpretation, it...

Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (30 May 2013)

Simon Harris: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013. I agree with the comments by Deputies Calleary and Spring in regard to the self-employed and welcome the first step the Bill takes to rectifying the anomaly whereby those who take a chance and try to establish a business are left without a safety net if they fall on difficult times. I...