Results 4,241-4,260 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Pensions Legislation (17 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the changes to the defined benefit pension schemes has been implemented (details supplied); if not, when she plans to bring in such changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17929/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: It is my end. People in the area see the word "Aviva" when they look up at the stadium-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: -----but they cannot get flood cover from the same insurance company that has put up so many big banners in the local area.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: It was supported by the OPW because the local authority is the lead authority and the OPW works through it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I have a question about something that came up at other hearings, which was raised by Mr. Dempsey the last time we were here and on which we challenged the federation. Mr. Dempsey said that in a case in which a person gets a letter in the post saying his insurance is due for renewal, and that person seeks other quotes but is refused insurance by those other firms, if he returns to the firm...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: The proposal form also asks that a person who has been refused insurance by another insurance company make that disclosure. Let us say, as an example, that I have a household insurance policy. The renewal notice is issued for my house, which is in a flood plain, and I seek other quotes but am refused insurance on the basis that I reside in a flood plain. If I do not disclose that to my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: A lot of household insurance business is conducted over the phone. The householder gets a quote and accepts it and pays up. When I took out household insurance initially, I did not fill out a proposal form, but provided information over the phone. Therefore, I would not have been asked whether I was 50 m from a stream. That is something that is quite new on insurance forms.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I understand some of that information is personal and covered by the legislation on data protection, but could Mr. Kavanagh provide details on this to the committee? Could he provide us with examples, without including names and addresses? This would be helpful. We need practical examples when we are challenging people. I will conclude by mentioning that the OPW did fantastic flood work...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: However, in Dublin the OPW and the local authorities work together. Letters from local authorities outline the standard to which the works were carried out. At the beginning, when the letter was issued, it was accepted by many insurance companies, but then after approximately 18 months they all changed and the letter was no longer acceptable, despite the fact that senior engineers in my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Property Insurance: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I welcome the delegates and thank them for attending. I realise it took some time to travel here. The committee has done considerable work on this matter. Mr. Kavanagh outlined that engagement between the OPW and IIF only began to take place in January 2013. This is a direct result of the work this committee has done in highlighting the OPW's work and the lack of communication. However,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Private Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: This is a new process for us. In this matter the committee is acting as an advisory group. If we wish to give advice, has this been worked out procedurally?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Private Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: I am not speaking about the committee's recommendations. We had a discussion earlier about previous appointments and are only feeling our way. This is part of the reform process. If it is deemed that we act as an advisory group on appointments, what is the formal structure for the committee?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Private Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: There are discussions on that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Private Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes. The money never comes back into the system. Does Ms Walsh agree, from a strategic perspective, that there is a strong need for a deposit retention scheme administered by her board? Ms Walsh touched on the voluntary housing sector which has had in the last decade a growing involvement in the provision of social housing. She mentioned a figure of approximately 20,000. Social housing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Private Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Is Ms Walsh referring to Part IV of the legislation? I am asking about policy because she said in her presentation that the question of policy would be consultative. I am trying to see from where she is coming rather than asking about forthcoming legislation. What are her thoughts? She seems to have significant experience of dispute resolution, but I am trying to see from where she is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Private Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: A lot of experience has been lost. Certainly, the question of policy consultation between the Government and the chairperson is vital. That is why I am trying to tease out Ms Walsh's views on policy rather than hearing about the forthcoming legislation. She will be consulted on questions of policy and I want to get a flavour of her views, but she is not giving it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Private Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: A lot of discussion has been flagged on the issue of local authority housing being included within the PRTB's remit. Where does Ms Walsh see that happening? Has she thought about it strategically? Has she considered voluntary housing and the issues that will arise in terms of the reduction and management of staff and the deposit retention scheme, which represents 50% of the board's work...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Private Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Not quite.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Private Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: There were no questions for the board.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Private Residential Tenancies Board: Discussion with Chairperson Designate (16 Apr 2013)

Kevin Humphreys: Ms Walsh is very welcome. It is probably something of an ordeal-----