Results 2,781-2,800 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Places (21 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The only activation measure that specifically allows placements within Departments is JobBridge, the national internship scheme. At present, there are approximately 24 JobBridge interns based in Departments and agencies. The following table provides the breakdown by Department and agency. Since the scheme started in 2011, a total of 330 interns, including the 24 interns who are currently...

Other Questions: National Internship Scheme Places (21 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Since 2011, there have been 330.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Placements (21 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. There were a limited number of advertisements for those positions. The Department has ensured they were taken down. A protocol is being developed between the Department and the Department of Education and Skills to review the guidelines to avoid similar incidents in future. A number of work activation schemes operate within the education sector, such as CE schemes and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Placements (21 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his positive remarks because JobBridge has worked extremely well, with 61% of people going into full-time employment within five months of participating in a JobBridge scheme. It shows the real benefit of helping people who are long-term unemployed to get experience and then get into work. The Deputy wants it both ways. He wants to say it is a positive experience and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Placements (21 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: There are very strong control measures. It has a very high level of inspection rate, to the highest of European standards. It also provides for people who are participating in JobBridge to send in complaints to the Department which are rigorously investigated. The Deputy cannot have it both ways. He cannot say that he thinks it is a very good scheme, which has helped people get real...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Internship Scheme Placements (21 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: JobBridge is a successful work experience scheme, the purpose of which is to break the vicious cycle whereby long-term unemployed people are unable to get work without experience but are unable to get experience without a job. All internships under JobBridge are, of course, voluntary. There is a limited number of occupations to which access to internships is restricted. These include...

Topical Issue Debate: Budget 2015 (9 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The Deputy has made the point she raised well. There is a need to scope out exactly what the problem is and identify the blockages. When a man or a woman decides to take time out of work to mind their children at, say, 30 years of age, the last thing they think of is the effect that break in their employment service will have on their income on reaching 65 years of age. There is an...

Topical Issue Debate: Budget 2015 (9 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The priority of the Government since entering office has been to maintain fully the core weekly rates of payment for pensioners and it has done that successfully over the past three budgets. The Irish pensions system is made up of a number of schemes, based on a number of criteria such as contributions paid, income need and other factors. These...

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (9 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection pursuant to Standing Orders 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (9 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I think the Deputies for their well thought out contributions today and last Tuesday, which are very much appreciated. There will be time to broaden and extend the discussion further on Committee Stage. The Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014 is part of a suite of Bills introduced to modernise our civil registration service. The first of these was the Civil Registration (Amendment)...

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I will bring forward an amendment on Committee Stage where it is more appropriate.

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014 [Seanad]: Second Stage (7 Oct 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to bring this very important and progressive legislation to the House. The Civil Registration Act 2004 represented a significant development in the provisions governing civil registration in Ireland. It was a major overhaul of legislation dating back to 1844. However, the decade since 2004 has seen extensive changes in Irish...

Topical Issue Debate: Property Taxation Collection (25 Sep 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Deputy Lawlor for his kind words. I am sure we will see him down in these low elevations as well at some stage. The Deputy will be aware that the Finance (Local Property Tax) Bill 2012 allows for a person who is liable for the local property tax, and who is in receipt of certain social protection payments, to have local property tax deducted from their payments. The Revenue...

Topical Issue Debate: Property Taxation Collection (25 Sep 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Deputy Lawlor. I am happy to engage further with him on this after the debate to see can we come to some resolution. As I outlined in the reply, it is quite complex and there are clear guidelines in relation to it. We will have to look at it extremely carefully because we do not want to push recipients below a minimum rate. As I stated, the Minister indicated that she will review...

Order of Business (25 Sep 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: Deputy Higgins should sit down. He is out of touch.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: The debate this afternoon outlines the problems very clearly. There is unanimity on the matter. If we made this amendment now, people would see change out of the blue without having had an opportunity to discuss the matter and engage in proper consultation. The adoption (information and tracing) Bill is a priority, not only for me but also for the Tánaiste. We will certainly consider...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I just wanted to mark that as the Senator entered the Chamber.

Seanad: Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014: Report and Final Stages (24 Sep 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I acknowledge Senator Walsh and thank him for the engagement that took place during the week. We tried to work in a co-operative manner to move things forward. I would like to address amendments Nos. 1 and 3 in the first instance. The registration of stillbirth was first provided for in the Stillbirths Registration Act 1994. The definition of stillbirth contained in that Act was carried...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Departmental Staff Redeployment (17 Sep 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank Senator Mooney for raising this issue. As I outlined in my initial response we are quite the minor tenant in the building. I will do my best to take on board the Senator's questions on whether there is a possibility and how far the decision-making process has gone. My concern is that the service provided by the staff would maintained and that the current staff are treated in a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Departmental Staff Redeployment (17 Sep 2014)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Senator for bringing this matter to my attention. I was not aware of it earlier. The Department of Social Protection has ten staff based in Government buildings on Teeling Street. Is the figure of 101 the total figure?