Results 3,181-3,200 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations which benefits over 207,000 children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects scheme through which funding is provided...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Data (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Government's primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people. This strategy has been succeeding, with an increase of over 80,000 in employment over the last two...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Data (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2010 to 2013 are available at or through the Oireachtas library. The corresponding data for 2014 are currently being collated by my Department, and will be published in the 2014 report as soon as they are finalised.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank all the Senators for their comments. This is a very important Bill and it should be assessed very carefully. Senator van Turnhout referred to the review being a box-ticking exercise of merely listing the number of certificates issue. I do not see it as such. This Bill will have a life of its own. During one of our previous debates, reference was made to the lack of in-depth...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Poor choice of words.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Whose terms?

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I do not know. I do not know the procedure.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Senator might have misunderstood what I said. There is not agreement on what is international best practice.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: No. The Senator may have heard it that way. I think I explained it very well when I said that this is a living, breathing piece of legislation and that people will have further understandings. In terms of the review - I hope I will be here again in this particular role, because it is challenging - I would embrace the opportunity to review the legislation to see how it is operating, but it...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Senator van Turnhout. We have had extensive engagement in the House and outside it on this. I certainly believe the main aim of the amendments is to deal with schools' admission policies, although they are not solely aimed at this.In that regard, the schools do not form part of the Department of Social Protection's remit but I have engaged with the Minister for Education and Skills....

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: We agree that the major impact for children is how the education system treats them and deals with this matter. As the Senator said herself when we had one of our exchanges, it is much easier when a principal deals with this matter, becomes informed and that knowledge is shared across the system. Only a tiny minority of schools have dealt with this matter and discovered how it is managed...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Senator. I wish to bring some type of order to this. The Senator was dealing with amendment No. 29. If it is okay with the Senator, I will deal with that issue when amendment No. 29 is under discussion.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I will answer the Senator's questions but I will do it in reverse order if that is okay with the Senator. I wish to work through this in a logical way. It does not help anyone trying to follow the debate if we jump forward and back. There is no explicit or separate provision for intersex persons in the Bill. However, the provisions which apply to transgender persons also apply to intersex...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Senator for this courtesy because I would not otherwise have been aware of it. We have not had an engagement with the Irish College of General Practitioners. This is the first time that we have had that level of engagement. The general register of medical practitioners covers all doctors who practise in Ireland without distinction. It is not limited to GPs. The issue needs to...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: However, we have not had in-depth discussions with the IMO. We spoke earlier on the review mechanism. This will be one of the important elements to be examined and reviewed. We will not manage to have these in-depth consultations and to consider the issue properly before this legislation is sent to the Dáil. I therefore will not accept the amendment proposed. I want there to be no...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Time is limited. I hope to be in the Dáil shortly, within weeks of its going through. If I had a choice, I would be in the Dáil next week. Given the volume of legislation that is going through the Dáil and the window available, I had to take the opportunity to get this into the Dáil and get the legislation passed. The timescale is limited. The review element of two...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The decision to seek gender recognition from the State is a hugely significant one which will have implications for the person throughout their life. I simply cannot agree that to remove the age limit entirely is in the best interests of all children. The State must legislate to protect the best interests of all children. I strongly believe the Bill safeguards the rights of children...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: All of our children.

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: This is not only a piece of paper. The Senator spoke about this being patronising to people. People have strived for she has called a piece of paper. This is an important certificate and it is a recognition of gender.We would not have spent hours in this House if this was only a piece of paper. People would not have campaigned for 20 years if this was only a piece of paper. I cannot...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am satisfied that this is a prudent and balanced approach which meets the standards in the best interests of the child. I do not believe this is just a piece of paper. We would not be here tonight if this was only a piece of paper.