Results 4,561-4,580 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Sector: Quarterly Engagement with Central Bank of Ireland (4 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: But they could have been talking to each other in relation to interpretation because the contracts were all similar. The interpretation across 15 lenders were very similar. It would indicate to me that there was some collusion between the lenders, that there was tick-tacking and phone calls taking place about how they were interpreting contracts.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Sector: Quarterly Engagement with Central Bank of Ireland (4 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: The Central Bank has used EY and Grant Thornton among others. How much have these contracts cost and will the Central Bank recover the costs of the consultants from the lenders?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Sector: Quarterly Engagement with Central Bank of Ireland (4 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Do we know how much we have spent on this so far and how much has been charged back?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Sector: Quarterly Engagement with Central Bank of Ireland (4 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: How big is the Central Bank's team? Mr. Sheridan said it was quite comprehensive. How many?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Banking Sector: Quarterly Engagement with Central Bank of Ireland (4 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Maybe Mr. Sheridan could come back to me and let me know how many of those supervisors and enforcement staff are involved in that. I do not expect the witnesses to have the figure to hand today.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Too often we do not acknowledge the progress we have made over the past six years. The unemployment rate six years ago was 15% and there have been enormous improvements and gains in this regard. This is despite issues with regard to bogus self-employed people, precarious employment and low-cost hours. Overall, huge strides have been made in getting people back to work. I was always very...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Senator Alice-Mary Higgins was in the Chamber but you moved on.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: She was.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Is it the Minister's intention not to allow any cutting of hedges on roadsides in the month of August until she has published the regulations?

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I have, but so had Senator Norris.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I just wish to make a point of clarity to the Acting Chairman. I want to be clear about the groupings the amendments are being taken in. One grouping includes amendments Nos. 53 to 56, though amendment No. 56 is not necessarily tied to upland burning. The grouping has taken the hedgerows------

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Sorry, Chairman. Amendment No. 56 actually amends the amount of upland lands that can be-----

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: There is nothing in amendment No. 53 that prohibits amendment No. 56.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Amendment No. 57 relates to the maintenance of a register. On Committee Stage I referred to the EMBER project that had demonstrated the effects of moorland burning on the ecology of river basins, which is practised predominantly to support the red grouse population for gun sports. Senator Daly highlighted that the red grouse population in his area had recovered through good practice as...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Minister, because I made very strong representations to her on Committee Stage that there should be a sunset clause in this. The Minister just mentioned this pilot scheme again. Now that we have not accepted the register, how are we keeping a record? This is a pilot scheme as the Minister just mentioned again.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: How are we to know what damage is done or how well the pilot scheme operated if there is absolutely no record of what has happened in respect of upland burning or hedging? If it is a pilot, will the Minister please tell us how we are going to measure whether it has been successful or not? We have now accepted that there will be no records of what will happen over the next three years.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I welcome the Minister saying that there will be no changes to the legislation until the regulations have first been issued. That is positive. Is the Minister's intention to do the regulations through statutory instrument?

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: For clarity, I asked the Minister two questions and the answer to both is yes. One is that the legislation will not be enforced until the regulations are passed and the regulations will be done by statutory instrument.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: That is great, thank you.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: There has been a 50% decline in the bee population since 1980 and that has the potential to have a negative impact on food production, as outlined by Senator Higgins. If we wish to be fair to all of the farming community, especially farmers in the fruit production area, we must ensure protections are put in place. The amendment simply provides for having regard to the plan. I would prefer...