Results 5,421-5,440 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I have said I support equalisation, but it must be done through central taxation if we want more people to pay and buy into local property tax. We must look at people who are earning huge amounts of money and can afford to pay the taxation to afford the equalisation. People who are living in terraced houses are paying huge property tax compared to what people in Donegal, Leitrim or...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I raise the issue of the Environmental Protection Agency report on clean air. The clean air strategy will come out later this year but clean air is not only an issue for Dublin. Smoky coal is still used in towns and cities where it has not been banned. We have been waiting a considerable period of time for that to be addressed. We are aware of the health constraints, especially in respect...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The Leader has not been helpful in pointing that out to me. I sympathise with the staff of this House in respect of the rodent problem in the public bar and the Members' bar. It is upsetting for many members of staff but I refer to-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: -----the rat infestation we have seen in our cities in recent years. I am aware of inner city flat complexes where morning, noon and night residents are plagued by rats and when they complain they are passed off between Dublin City Council and the Health Service Executive. Yesterday, a lady explained that she left for work in her car and when she got there her engine had seized because rats...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: We should get back to serious business. The remarks the Minister made are a little bit beneath him and I hope he made them in good humour. Senator Norris does not have to explain why Senator McDowell is not here. All good drivers need good navigators.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: We made an agreement to finish Committee Stage today. We should do the business and get it finished.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The Acting Chairman is very good. I very much support the spirit of what is being said. We all hear from individuals who have experienced a large spike in rates but we do not always hear from those who have experienced a large decrease in rates. Within the current legislation, rates income must be neutral following a revaluation. This is the difficulty we face. As I understand the...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to speak very much to the spirit of the amendment. We are going through a major transition period regarding the main shopping streets, but even in urban areas, shopping centres in town centres find it very difficult because people have changed their way of interacting and they now purchase online. It is always the most vulnerable in society who are worst affected by the transition....

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: A typical knee-jerk reaction.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The budgetary function of local authorities is extremely important. I speak from experience as the leader of the Labour Party group on Dublin City Council for several years where there were year-on-year reductions in the commercial rates. We said at the time that it was prudent to reduce the commercial rates. It is worthwhile compiling the circular letter and including the information...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: He corrected himself.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: Senator Craughwell seems to be indicating that there is agreement but my understanding is that there is an agreement to meet to discuss these measures, not an agreement on the part of the Minister to concede to the amendment.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: That is clear, then.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: It would probably be a step down for the Senator to be a Minister, given that he had wanted to be President.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 4:In page 18, line 43, to delete “year.”.” and substitute the following:“year.”,(e) (i) in paragraph 19(1) of the Fourth Schedule, by the substitution of “a member of either House of the Oireachtas or of a local authority or a representative in the European Parliament” for “a member of either House of the Oireachtas...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Sep 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I will not go down the road of strange funny money mentioned by the other two parties. I believe we can do something practical in this House. The power-sharing Executive collapsed as a result of cash for ash and there has been no democratic voice in the Assembly since then. Considering what has happened in London, it is now urgent to get the Assembly back up and running. It would be...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2019: Committee Stage (24 Sep 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The Minister is quite correct in what she is saying; this is just a reflection, mapping or mirroring of the current legislation in respect of jobseeker's benefit and allowance. What we are hearing in the House today is a reflection of what we are hearing on the ground. With the very low unemployment rate, which is very welcome, we are now dealing with legacy issues and intergenerational...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Dementia Strategy (25 Sep 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, to the House. In case he is not aware, this is world dementia month during which we are trying to raise awareness of the number of people suffering from dementia and, unfortunately, the lack of supports for them in Ireland. There are currently 55,000 people diagnosed with dementia in Ireland and 4,000 people are diagnosed with the disease...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Dementia Strategy (25 Sep 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I do not want to get angry. I had skin in the game because I saw my mother with dementia in the last years of her life. I have seen the real impact it has on families. The Minister says that, five years after the dementia strategy was launched, we are funding initiatives from dormant accounts funding but we need mainstream funding. It has to be planned and we cannot go, cap in hand,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Dementia Strategy (25 Sep 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I will do that. I thank the Cathaoirleach.