Results 4,281-4,300 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Order of Business (29 Sep 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I second that.

Seanad: Protection of Employment (Uncertain Hours) Bill 2016: First Stage (29 Sep 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Address by An Taoiseach (Resumed) (29 Sep 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The Taoiseach is very welcome. It is welcome that he should come to the Seanad today albeit he should do so on a more regular basis.

Seanad: Address by An Taoiseach (Resumed) (29 Sep 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I would like to see the Taoiseach attend the Seanad at the beginning and end of each term so that we would see him back here before Christmas. The level of the debate so far today has been very good and informative and I very much welcome that. I do not think politicians, like the media, have short memories. The reason I ran the campaign to have the Taoiseach attend today was that the...

Seanad: Address by An Taoiseach (Resumed) (29 Sep 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The point I made is that the Cabinet has collective responsibility in that regard.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I support Senator Grace O'Sullivan in regard to her comments and to offer my sympathy to the families of those who have lost their lives while cycling. It is one of the only sectors where investment has gone backwards in recent months in that we have seen funding cut for the design of two major greenways. Ministers were appointed on 6 May and, since then, nearly every Minister has outlined...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The previous Government did considerable work on climate change. Ireland is one of the few countries to have climate change on the Statute Book. I refer to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. The Act has two key elements. An independent advisory council was to be set up and each Minister was to have the responsibility to report annually to the Dáil about emissions...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I am seeking clarity from the Leader and probably from the Seanad leader of Fianna Fáil as well in respect of the budget, in particular, social welfare payments. There seems to be some mystery over exactly when the payment will be made. We hear it will be in March. I am reminded of the old saying that we have yet to hear which March. Is it to be paid in the first week in March or the...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: When will these measures be introduced?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: On a small point of order, if this House is to be taken seriously, then the past several minutes does not help. I know it is a difficult job to chair proceedings. However, if we want the public to take us seriously, we have to act in a serious way.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: We could get some in advance.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mayoral Election (18 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter for discussion. The proposal for a directly elected mayor of Dublin has been knocking around since the mid-2000s. Credit is due to the former Minister for Environment and Local Government, Mr. Noel Dempsey, for taking an enlightened view on this issue. His successor, Mr. John Gormley, and my party colleague, Councillor Dermot Lacey, have...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Mayoral Election (18 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: No, with no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy English, I am very disappointed in the response. What I hear in that response is a kicking of the can down the road.The previous Ministers, Mr. John Gormley and Mr. Noel Dempsey, already outlined the powers. The fact we could have a directly-elected mayor for very little cost has been widely debated. However, democracy is not cheap....

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I want to raise with the Leader the actions by the Environmental Protection Agency in seeking a delay in the implementation of EU air pollution limits for Moneypoint power station and for other gas and fuel plants. The EPA has also pushed for an exemption that would allow the Edenderry power plant to exceed the new sulphur dioxide limits. In addition, the agency has opposed proposals for...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I first pay credit to the credit union movement because today is International Credit Union Day. I thank the movement personally because its members worked very closely with me in developing the micro-credit scheme. I hope the eventual outcome of the scheme will be the closing down of what I call the legal money lenders, who charge up to 130% interest rates to many people in deprived areas...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: They are paying rent increases of up to 25% and at the same time must try to save for a deposit on a home. They are hugely disadvantaged. I welcome wholeheartedly the decision of An Bord Pleanála regarding Airbnb. Senator Denis Landy and I have highlighted this issue in this House over and over again. We have a housing crisis in the country and in this city in particular. Some 2,000...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: However, we should not do it blindly and without discussion.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I ask the Leader to call in the Minister for Health. I read in this morning's edition of the Irish Examinerthat four new maternity hospitals are needed across the country. Nearly on a monthly basis I have raised the shame that although we have agreement to build a new national maternity hospital at St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, we have been waiting ten months for planning...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The Senator should not make-----

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: There is a conflict of interest here.