Results 3,201-3,220 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

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

Kevin Humphreys: I addressed this matter comprehensively on a previous Stage, when I explained that we had discussions with the Minister for Justice and Equality on including it as part of the commencement notice if the referendum was passed. Unfortunately, we are tied constitutionally. For those reasons, I cannot accept the amendment, but I have ensured that there will be a speedy resolution to this...

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

Kevin Humphreys: This is a technical change and deals with the disposal of property. These sections of the Bill refer to wills made before or after the coming into operation of the Act. They address the issue that recognition of a person's preferred gender should have an impact on the distribution of property under wills or other instruments. If a will made after the legislation comes into effect refers to...

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

Kevin Humphreys: To add to Senator Mooney's contribution, I wish to acknowledge the work done by Dr. Lydia Foy. In many ways this is ground-breaking legislation but I also accept that, much to everybody's shame, it is 20 years being brought forward. It would have been better if Dr. Foy had not been obliged to go through the courts to secure her rights.A vote of thanks should go to her in this regard. Great...

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

Kevin Humphreys: I accept that. I was not being negative but just wished to respond in the Senator's presence. The Senator wanted me to ensure, and to put it on the record, that this would not be a box ticking process but that we would examine each section. It is not about the number of certificates being issued or the like, but a true review. The Senator wanted me to put that on the record and I am happy...

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

Kevin Humphreys: With regard to the engagement from a wide range of people outside the House and from the people in the Visitors Gallery, in my experience with legislation, as a backbench Deputy, there has never been so much positive interaction on a legislative measure. The amendment made in this House related to the two year review. That is important and should be recognised as an important addition to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (18 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The statistics sought by the Deputy are not readily available in the Department and will have to be compiled. Officials will contact the Deputy directly when the information has been gathered. However, it is important to point out that the Department - through its network of Intreo offices - makes every effort to ensure that there is maximum take-up of CE places by jobseekers and other...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobs Data (19 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The number of interns participating in the JobBridge scheme with each Local Authority is set out Table 1 below: Table 1. JobBridge Interns with Local Authorities Local Authority Current Athlone Town Council 0 Bray Town Council 0 Carlow County Council 3 Cavan County Council 1 Clare County Council 2 Cork City Council 12 Cork County Council 3 Donegal County Council 11 Dublin City...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Drug Rehabilitation Projects (24 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive, together. I am pleased to say that considerable progress has been made in increasing the number of participants on the community employment (CE) drug rehabilitation scheme, the majority of which (two-thirds of participants) are in the Dublin region. At December 2014, there are 936 referred clients on drug rehabilitation places,...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Drug Rehabilitation Projects (24 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together. In terms of the age profile of participants on Community Employment (CE): - Table 1 below provides the profile of participants on CE drug rehabilitation projects. At December 2014, 27% (257) are under 25 years of age. While the minimum age for participation on a standard CE programme is 25 years of age, this requirement has been reduced...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (24 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: For persons of 55 years of age and over, the maximum cumulative duration for participation on Community Employment (CE) is six years. Therefore, if they have only completed three years to date, they have the potential to participate for a further three years on the programme. For persons who have exhausted their maximum duration on CE, and who are looking for other opportunities to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Further Education and Training Programmes Funding (24 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Training Support Grant (TSG) is designed to fund quick access to short-term training where this cannot be provided by a state provider within a reasonable time or where a intervention is identified that can support individual jobseekers to access work opportunities. It is important to note that the scheme is not designed to provide general training for jobseekers. Access to the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (24 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I can confirm that there are persons still in receipt of dual social welfare payments (i.e. concurrent community employment (CE) allowances and certain social welfare payments). Budget 2012 announced the disqualification from certain payments while participating on CE. Up until 16thJanuary 2012, certain social welfare payments could be retained in part or in full while participating on CE....

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Local Employment Service (24 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: There has been no reduction in the level of funding allocated for the Local Employment Service (LES) for 2015 and there has been no reduction in the funding allocation of any individual LES. The Deputy may be referring to a change to the funding of support grants that are provided to jobseekers to assist them with certain minor costs involved in getting back to work but the level of such...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility (24 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 214 together. The rent supplement scheme provides support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are currently approximately 70,700 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Review (24 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department of Social Protection is not currently undertaking a review of the contractual arrangements between community employment (CE) supervisors and their employers CE Sponsoring Organisations.

Topical Issue Debate: Jobseeker's Benefit Eligibility (25 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Deputy Pringle for raising the matter. I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department has not made any changes recently to the arrangements that apply for seasonal workers who are in receipt of jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance. I have been given a briefing note but, unfortunately, it does not cover the three items the Deputy has raised. In terms of having a...

Income and Living Conditions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am glad of the opportunity to conclude the debate on the Private Members' motion on income and living conditions and to support the Government's amendment. I have listened to and considered the points raised by the speakers from the Technical Group and noted the various reports that they have highlighted to support their arguments. Fundamentally, I believe the points they advance are...

Income and Living Conditions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: They are not badly paid jobs.

Income and Living Conditions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: They are full-time, well paid jobs.

Income and Living Conditions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: That is beneath the Deputy, who is normally quite fair.