Results 2,401-2,420 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: This is a technical change and deals with the disposal of property. These sections of the Bill refer to wills made before or after the coming into operation of the Act. They address the issue that recognition of a person's preferred gender should have an impact on the distribution of property under wills or other instruments. If a will made after the legislation comes into effect refers to...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: To add to Senator Mooney's contribution, I wish to acknowledge the work done by Dr. Lydia Foy. In many ways this is ground-breaking legislation but I also accept that, much to everybody's shame, it is 20 years being brought forward. It would have been better if Dr. Foy had not been obliged to go through the courts to secure her rights.A vote of thanks should go to her in this regard. Great...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I accept that. I was not being negative but just wished to respond in the Senator's presence. The Senator wanted me to ensure, and to put it on the record, that this would not be a box ticking process but that we would examine each section. It is not about the number of certificates being issued or the like, but a true review. The Senator wanted me to put that on the record and I am happy...

Seanad: Gender Recognition Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: With regard to the engagement from a wide range of people outside the House and from the people in the Visitors Gallery, in my experience with legislation, as a backbench Deputy, there has never been so much positive interaction on a legislative measure. The amendment made in this House related to the two year review. That is important and should be recognised as an important addition to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Eligibility (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The core eligibility criterion for CE is that the person is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, as defined on the Department's website. This requirement is based on Government policy and Departmental guidelines and has been the rule since CE commenced in 1994. At present, persons signing for credits or otherwise ineligible for a social welfare payment, do not meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Data (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The rent supplement scheme provides support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are over 70,700 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. End of year statistics on rent...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: School Meals Programme (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations which benefits over 207,000 children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects scheme through which funding is provided...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Youth Unemployment Data (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Government's primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people. This strategy has been succeeding, with an increase of over 80,000 in employment over the last two...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobseeker's Allowance Data (17 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2010 to 2013 are available at or through the Oireachtas library. The corresponding data for 2014 are currently being collated by my Department, and will be published in the 2014 report as soon as they are finalised.

Companies (Amendment) Bill 2015: First Stage (12 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: No.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Court Accommodation Provision (12 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: All Departments have to operate within certain financial constraints but I am sure the Senator will work hard to remove the obstacles that currently exist. The Government is aware of the value provided by our excellent court system and we continue to provide substantial resources to the Courts Service. I acknowledge that Main Street in Portlaoise is probably not an area in which crowds...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Court Accommodation Provision (12 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service. Section 4(3) of the 1998 Act provides that the Courts Service is independent in its functions, including in the provision, maintenance and management of court...

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

Kevin Humphreys: There are no plans to allow new participants on the Community Employment (CE) programme to retain their original social welfare payments while employed on the scheme and receiving concurrent CE allowances. The main enactment of this measure was contained in Section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 2011. The main purpose of CE is to assist and support long-term unemployed and other vulnerable...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Jobs Initiative (12 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: Gateway is a Local Authority initiative which aims to provide short-term quality and suitable work opportunities to improve the employability and maintain the work readiness of those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more. All employees who have income over €352 per week are liable for Class A PRSI contribution at a rate of 4% on the total earnings. Employees are also...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together. The rent supplement scheme provides support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are approximately 70,700 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Physical Education Facilities (11 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: The Senator is referring to a specific school.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Physical Education Facilities (11 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I was speaking about general policy across the area.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Physical Education Facilities (11 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: If the Senator will let me finish, I am aware of local negotiations across the country where co-operation between the Department of Education and Skills and the local authorities have led to the development of good sporting facilities, including gymnasium halls and swimming pools, that the entire community can use. As a public representative, I have long been concerned about excellent...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Physical Education Facilities (11 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: I am taking this Commencement Matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. I thank the Senator for raising it, as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the current position on the provision of physical education facilities in post-primary schools. The Department of Education and Skills fully recognises the key role of physical...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes Operation (11 Feb 2015)

Kevin Humphreys: There are no plans to relax the current participation limits placed on participants of community employment (CE) schemes who may be just a year off retirement and there are no plans to grant those that fall into this category a special exemption to be allowed to work on CE until they reach 66 years of age (state pension age). These requirements are there to ensure that there are adequate...