Results 3,921-3,940 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes, once the relevant regulations are in place. That is the target date. We need this amendment in order to use the household budgeting scheme and then introduce a regulation. Our target is to keep pressing forward with the initiative, which has many moving parts. Originally, I thought the initiative would be far simpler but, unfortunately, this is what happens in many situations.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Deputy Ó Snodaigh, who is quite correct in many ways. Approximately 370 clients have transferred to alternative payment schemes. Approximately 130 clients are still availing of the Lough scheme, as an administrated scheme. The Deputy made some very good points in regard to the Traveller community and I would be happy to look at this again at some stage.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Is Deputy O'Dea suggesting that the person should continue to receive a payment in respect of the adult dependant?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am sorry that nobody has come back to Deputy Ó Snodaigh on his proposal because we discussed it when we were looking at the amendments this morning. In the first instance, this relates to legislation which should be dealt with by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. However, there is merit in this amendment because the Department has done something similar in respect of...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 34:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following: “PART 3 PENSIONS OMBUDSMANDefinition 21. In this Part “Principal Act” means the Pensions Act 1990.”.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 35:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 126 of Principal Act 22. Section 126 of the Principal Act is amended, in subsection (1), by the insertion of the following definitions:“ ‘Act of 1942’ means the Central Bank Act 1942; ‘Act of 2004’ means the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 36:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 128 of Principal Act 23. Section 128 of the Principal Act is amended—(a) by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (1):“(1A) Without prejudice to subsection (1), the Minister may, subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance, appoint a person who...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 37:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 129 of Principal Act 24. Section 129 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (6):“(7) Subsection (6) shall not apply to a person who holds the office of Financial Services Ombudsman, where that person is also appointed to be the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 38:In page 9, after line 22, to insert the following: “Amendment of section 130 of Principal Act 25. Section 130 of the Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (2):“(2A) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), in a case where the person who holds the office of Financial Services Ombudsman is also appointed,...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: As Deputy O'Dea has said, these arguments have been thrashed out with the Tánaiste on many occasions by himself and Deputy Ó Snodaigh. In many ways, I am giving information that the Tánaiste has conveyed to them on several occasions. Defined benefit schemes in Ireland are set up and maintained by employers on a voluntary basis. There has never been a statutory obligation...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: As the Deputy probably knows, in some defined benefit schemes, one does not make a contribution as it is included in one's package. That was the norm in many of the defined benefit schemes.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I accept the Deputy’s good intentions and that he is not trying to undermine the viability of businesses. However, while there has been an improvement in the economy, we have to be careful that there are not unintentional consequences by accepting proposals such as this. That is why I would be cautious on this matter. The last thing we want to do is put companies in a more difficult...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: On the question of the trustees and deferred pensioners, earlier this year the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection approved measures to facilitate engagement between the trustees of pensions schemes and groups representing the interests of pensioners and deferred scheme members by signing the Occupational Pension Schemes (Sections 50 and 50B) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 and the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: That is the ultimate sanction. I will come back later with the precise details for the Deputy.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 41:In page 3, line 5, after “Acts;” to insert the following:“to amend and extend the Pensions Act 1990 to provide for the appointment, as Pensions Ombudsman, of the person who also holds the Office of Financial Services Ombudsman;”.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare Bill 2015: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Chairman for facilitating the interruption earlier to allow me take a Topical Issue matter in the Dáil. I also thank the staff from the Department of Social Protection and the committee staff who have helped with the smooth running of today’s meeting. Above all, I thank the members who have helped and engaged in a constructive manner.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme Administration (12 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments due to the low level of income from their primary occupation. The scheme is delivered by 35 local development companies and by Údarás na Gaelachta, known collectively as implementing bodies. Participants...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (12 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Rule 1(4), of Part 4 of Schedule 3 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 provides that the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) means test includes the value of all income and the value of all property, of which the person has directly or indirectly deprived himself or herself, in order to qual­ify for the receipt of SWA. In the case referred to in the earlier Parliamentary...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Data (12 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Community Employment financial information requested by the Deputy is set out below. Allowances* Supervision 2015 YTD Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget YTD Actual January 28,925,637 28,738,676 4,425,662 5,155,722 February 52,269,721 50,668,029 8,851,323 9,342,468 March 74,586,429 74,433,133 13,323,031 13,677,786 April 102,484,689 102,607,744 18,912,666 18,863,180...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Primary responsibility for the provision of emergency accommodation rests with local authorities, as the Deputy well knows. The Department’s role with regard to homeless persons is mainly income maintenance. Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 63,000 people, at a cost of €298 million in 2015. Properties...