Results 3,041-3,060 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I did not shake my head.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I shall first respond to Senator Norris. I have great sympathy with his point about not being able to make amendments to money Bills. For his information, the money Bill provisions are set out in the Constitution. He made an excellent point and it should be considered for both Houses. I would support his suggestion if it went to the Constitutional Convention or for further debate in both...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: We will not go into abolishing the Christmas bonus and the reduction in jobseeker's benefits. I am not going that way, because I could take up so much time with it.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: There was a huge concentration on the Government and whether it is being re-elected or not. It is this Government that has taken on the process of rebuilding the country. Whether or not we are re-elected is not the important issue. The important issue is that we get this country back up on his feet.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: That is the direction we have been working. I do not mark my time in the Oireachtas wondering whether I will be re-elected or not. I mark my time trying to get this country back on its feet. That is the attitude of most of the Independent Senators, and especially my colleagues here. They have been working on re-establishing the independence of this country. It has been difficult and...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Chair does not want it either.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The allowances for PRSI are progressive. By eliminating-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: By eliminating the top-----

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Senator Norris has just left the Chamber but on JobsPlus that was a briefing document, which was part of the normal briefing to Members before the Bill was published. This does not need to be dealt with in legislation but it is important that it is there for the information of the Seanad. I take Senator Byrne's comments in the spirit they were made. This is an extremely difficult time....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: In fairness, the matter has been debated on Committee Stage in the Dáil and the Tánaiste has given a commitment to Deputies which I will repeat to Senators that the matter will be further examined and when the 2015 Estimates are discussed by the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection the Tánaiste will make a full report. At this stage I do not propose to accept the...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Senator is probably correct that it is better to get a lot more knowledge out about the review option. The period laid out in the recommendation is not viable because it can take up to six weeks to organise an oral hearing and, therefore, a 60-day element is impractical. We have a very flexible system because, at every stage, it is open to the client to give additional information....

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I always enjoy listening to the Senator's contributions because, invariably, I always learn something. Some of the staff are FÁS employees who have come in to the Department of Social Protection. Some of the additional 15 staff are from FÁS and some are from a reallocation within the Department. There is a great deal of reform taking place in the Department and staff are being...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Government recently announced a more modest and affordable system for water charges. As part of this package, the Department of Social Protection will administer a new water conservation grant of €100. Arising from the revised charge structure which is simpler and more affordable, Irish Water will no longer require PPS numbers. As a consequence, there will no longer be a need...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Members will have a long-running conversation later in the week on Irish Water but I would say to Senator Mooney that the Department of Social Protection has considerable experience in paying people's entitlements and I have no doubt the professionalism and capability of those in the Department will result in that €100 grant being paid.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I repeat that as a consequence there will no longer be a need for Irish Water to be listed as a specified body in Schedule 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act for the purpose of using the PPS number. I am sorry, I have a heavy cold, as Senators may have gathered. I know Noel Whelan also. I would not be a good friend of his but he ran with Eoin Ryan for Fianna Fáil in Dublin...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes. He should look forward because many people in Fianna Fáil ran in Dublin South East, and many candidates went on to be President, so he might not always be a columnist for The Irish Times. He may be in the Phoenix Park at some stage. The €100 grant will assist people in the conservation measures and I hope it will be used for that purpose. I do not have much more to add...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I will use the water conservation grant to install water butts in my house. There are many ways to use it. The €100 will be paid to people as a water conservation grant. They can use it as a discount or as an aid in conserving water on their properties. There are many ways in which that can be done.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I am sorry. I thought the Senator made his point.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I did not mean to interrupt. I apologise.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: It is dealt with in the Water Services Bill.