Results 4,481-4,500 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: On a point of clarity, did the Minister accept amendment No. 1f, or indicate that she would accept it on Report Stage?

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: We need to be careful in this respect. I am referring to amendment No. 1f, which relates to page 4, line 15 of the Bill. The section states: "Waterways Ireland shall consult with the Minister for Communication, Energy and Natural Resources in relation to any matters which affect or may affect fish, fish life, fish stocks or fishing in the canals." This amendment does not cut across the...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I want to go back to amendment No. 1f.There is a certain responsibility in respect of fisheries for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, but sometimes that crosses over, for argument's sake, in the case of coarse fishing for roach, pike, etc., and the encouraging of spawning grounds and planting of reeds and lilies. There are different areas where there is...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I also want to recognise that. Most Senators had tabled similar amendments in respect of that and it is good to recognise local authorities' very strong role in it. Can I just go back to Senator Norris's comments in respect of maintaining navigation? Can I give the Minister a practical example of this? We are speaking about it in the abstract and of course navigation is being interfered...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: We need to have something in there about maintaining navigation without impeding navigation. I very much support Senator Norris on this. I just wanted to give a practical example that everything is not rosy. These things are happening already.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: On the matter to which Senator Paul Daly referred, in the previous session I made a request in respect of it and that is apparent from the blacks.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Committee Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I can understand Senator Daly's point but this is important legislation. The Minister has been patient in terms of the manner in which she is working through this legislation. Very little legislation is coming before this House and when legislation does come before Members, it is important that is examined properly. We will spend practically all of next week on statements. The Minister is...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Like everyone else, when I woke up this morning I heard on "Morning Ireland" about the families who so sadly lost their lives in the fire in Clondalkin. I express my deep sympathy and that of my party to those families and their extended relatives. It brings us back to Senator Devine's Commencement debate yesterday on the fire services and the need to ensure that a fire service is on-call...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: It is International Women's Day and there are many "why" questions. Why is there still such a large pay gap between men and women for carrying out the same work? The last real progress made was when Proinsias de Rossa introduced legislation on equal pay for equal work. At that time, it was resisted by many in society. Why did the Labour Party have to have its policy of gender quotas to...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I apologise to Senator Norris. I did not think he was old enough. There are many "Whys" in relation to inequality and discrimination against women in the State and we must keep battling to change that. The next major battle is to convince people about why the eighth amendment is so wrong. I look forward to joining, hopefully, many colleagues in the House, to try to win a referendum on the...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I wonder can I ask the speaker to yield for one moment for a question. I am a little bit confused. He has been asking for a review. Is he speaking for the motion or against the motion?

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Both?

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Are you sure, because------

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: The speaker yielded. I asked the question and he answered it. There is no need for others to heckle me.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Minister for his contribution. I have family members and many friends who have worked in the hospitality sector. When people started work in the sector they had an expectation they would earn enough money to be able to get a mortgage to buy a home and educate their children. This is no longer the case. People in the hospitality sector do not even know how many hours they will...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: This is where we must start.

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I was in government when the 9% VAT rate was introduced and it was the correct thing to do. We needed to stimulate the market and it worked well. We created employment. We have moved on, and the Minister's figures have shown how well we have done. It is time to review it. This is why the Fine Gael motion makes no sense as it states to give it to the sector forever with no conditions. It...

Seanad: Tourism Industry: Motion (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I am not surprised. The Minister was allowed speak for over 13 minutes.

Seanad: Sea-Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (8 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I ask the Minister to be open-minded on this matter. Fishermen would not have gone to the Supreme Court lightly and exposed themselves to such huge costs if they were not sincerely concerned about this matter. Unfortunately, we have a history of throwing fishermen under the bus and destroying their livelihoods. That is not a criticism of any single party, it is just historically correct....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Greyhound Industry (21 Mar 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I, too, welcome the children from County Wexford to the Visitors Gallery. The Minister of State is well aware of the shock and upset caused by the sudden closure of Harold's Cross greyhound stadium and the lack of consultation with dog owners on the issue. That issue must be dealt with over a period of time. A number of part-time workers have been in contact with me to say they are losing...