Results 4,761-4,780 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functioning of IBRC: Discussion (31 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: I believe the Central Bank is frustrated with the slowness. Mr. Dukes stated the bank still has not worked out a procedure and has far to go down the road. The bank is only beginning to enter discussions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Operations and Functioning of IBRC: Discussion (31 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: The matter of parliamentary questions was touched on in The Irish Times this morning. The Minister indicated he contacted the board on the €1 million bonus to Mr. Fingleton. Overall it is quite small when one considers the losses, but it is very important to the public. Will the witnesses give us an update on regaining this money for the taxpayer?

Prospects for Irish Economy: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: I want to use this opportunity to raise a number of key issues this country must consider. This year's budget will be tough, but despite the measures we must take, the deficit will remain 7.5% of GDP in 2013. This is well above what we can afford to borrow on a continuous basis. Unemployment remains far too high, at almost 15% and we are continuously working to implement measures to reduce...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: May I clarify an issue that arose in an earlier question? With regard to the €15.5 million that has been paid to the 168 people managing the properties, has Mr. McDonagh a maximum, average and minimum figure so that we can work out what sort of ballpark figures are involved. Does NAMA makes efforts to ensure that those in receipt of these salaries are tax compliant?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: Are they all tax compliant?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: Are these individuals asked for a tax compliance certificate prior to payments being made? When Deputies are elected, one of the conditions is that-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: Are there checks to ensure that individual are compliant?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: Regarding the special purpose vehicle for social housing, when is that expected to come on line? When will those 1,200 units be delivered and have we a time frame for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: Is it the intention that NAMA will control the special purpose vehicle?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: Is it NAMA's intention to sell on the special purpose vehicle to approved housing bodies?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: Will Mr. McDonagh confirm that it is his hope that by this time next year, 1,200 units will filter into social housing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: I accept that. Mr. McDonagh has given me a very clear answer. Money has been made available to finish off development sites. In my area of Dublin I see a pent-up demand for new office blocks and new apartments. The demand for rental properties in central Dublin is very high. Has NAMA a plan to release money or to invest in developing its brownfield sites in the short-term, as anecdotal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: It is welcome that people with specific expertise are now being seconded to Departments and Government bodies. I know there is a code of practice and confidentiality. Does NAMA maintain a register where their staff can declare their interests? How does NAMA manage, for example are there issues of good governance when people from the private sector take up a position on secondment with it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Role and Functions of NAMA: Discussion (24 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: I will try to take this in a different direction. I thank the witnesses for their submissions and their efforts in trying to answer the questions in full. It was stated that credit advances of €1.6 billion has been dispersed by NAMA. May I have a breakdown of the figure that shows how much of that money has been spent in the Republic?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Interim Report on National Climate Change Policy: Discussion with NESC (23 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: I have one proposal leading on from this response. I certainly support an independent climate change commission.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Interim Report on National Climate Change Policy: Discussion with NESC (23 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes. This report is very good and is interesting and would be a reference point. Climate change is not just affecting Ireland, it is an international problem. I suggest an invitation be extended to the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice to appear before the committee to give us an international viewpoint on the issue. It is important that we do not have a narrow vision of what is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Interim Report on National Climate Change Policy: Discussion with NESC (23 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: Based on his own experience of studying this issue, would Mr. Cahill be concerned about the fall-off in the planting of forestry as a carbon sink?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Interim Report on National Climate Change Policy: Discussion with NESC (23 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: The possibility of bioethanol being produced by the sugar beet industry has been covered in the media. I appreciate that inputs like fertilisers are not considered when the measurements are taken. Do the officials think there is an argument for a sustainable sugar beet industry in Ireland, with this as a by-product? Their report touches on the possibility of reducing fuel imports as a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Interim Report on National Climate Change Policy: Discussion with NESC (23 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: This is a comprehensive report. I apologise for coming in late. For me, one of the major challenges the House faces over the coming months and year is to develop legislation. I found the area of fuel poverty in the report very interesting. The report refers to increasing the grant from €3,000 to €8,000 for retrofitting. The pay-as-you-save scheme is about to be introduced,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Interim Report on National Climate Change Policy: Discussion with NESC (23 Oct 2012)

Kevin Humphreys: Page 246 of the report states: "[L]evying a carbon tax is more supportive of economic growth and employment than increasing income tax". That is a fairly definite statement. Would it be it progressive, in looking at a levying a carbon tax, to ring-fence that and target it directly at people experiencing fuel poverty and at retrofitting many of our buildings and homes which were built in the...