Results 721-740 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Impact of Core Bus Corridor Proposals: Discussion (20 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I have served on a number of committees and I know that when both sides are impacted upon, both sides should be allowed to make presentations.

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: This morning we woke up to news on "Morning Ireland" of possible changes to the MetroLink. They may be welcome, as they are for those GAA clubs which were to be inconvenienced temporarily, even if that temporary inconvenience was to last six years. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to come to the House to explain what precisely is going on in respect of...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: Out goes any consideration. We drive bulldozers through the communities and villages of this city without proper consultation. I want to see the Minister in here as soon as humanly possible. I am not calling for him today because I know the Leader may have a problem getting him in here today, but I will certainly be raising the issue of one section of the city being treated differently...

Seanad: Order of Business (20 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: Building bridges.

Seanad: Short-term Lettings Bill 2018: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy English, to the House. We have spoken about this Bill several times but I want to go back over some of the history. I brought this Bill forward in early 2017. I did not push it in the hope that we would see the report commissioned by the then Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government,...

Seanad: Short-term Lettings Bill 2018: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: What am I proposing? Under section 2 of the Bill one would have to apply for planning permission to let a self-contained residential unit for periods of six weeks or less. To use a dwelling for short-term letting is to use it for commercial and not residential purposes. We are still operating under the old bed and breakfast legislation that allows people to use their units in this way if...

Seanad: Short-term Lettings Bill 2018: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I acknowledge Senators Coffey, O'Connor, Warfield and Bacik for their contributions to the debate. The legislation is targeted at the pressed middle, the people who go out in the morning and earn salaries of €35,000 to €40,000 and who cannot compete with the short-term let market. They are being driven demented by not being able to get accommodation for all the reasons the...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I hope the coalition partners are not falling out.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I echo the remarks of Senator Norris earlier about the chaos about to happen in Dublin regarding public transport. I am delighted that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, who has been missing in action for so long, was on "Today with Sean O'Rourke" and I look forward to listening to his great knowledge on transport and to hear what his solutions are. He has not been very much...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I will second amendment No. 27, if it has not already been seconded.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I will give an example of why it is a good idea. Recently I sat down with a group of residents and councillors, which was a cross-party group. We were trying to resolve the housing crisis in the immediate area and to identify land that could be used for housing that is not currently zoned for housing. We came up with a number of ideas and the local councillors from all parties wish to...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I am not questioning the length of or the efforts that went into the consultation process by Members of this House, the Dáil and the committee and by members of the public and the local authorities.Every effort was made. We have to learn lessons from the past and particularly from what the country has gone through over recent years. The proposed amendment No. 30 is a good suggestion...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I think this amendment has some merit because it will give Members of the Oireachtas an opportunity to debate the framework after it has been finished but before it takes its place as a statutory enactment. I ask the Minister of State to take the amendment on board. We need to learn from the past. If both Houses need to debate these matters as part of a belt-and-braces approach to making...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: It should have been held in Carlow.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: On a point of order, I want to give Senator Coffey an opportunity to correct his statement to the House where he accused a majority of Senators of being parish-pump politicians. In fairness, I do not think the Senator meant it in that manner but it came out that way. This is in the context of our new politics and respect for Cabinet confidentiality where we have the Minister for Transport,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: I support the amendment. These powers were introduced - Senator Coffey was a Minister of State in the Department - for good reasons. We were starring down what has become the housing crisis and it was to try to get the building of houses started within the country. At this stage, we are still struggling to get built the volume of new houses that is badly needed. However, there is a need...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: There is a sense of nervousness in respect of the amendments the Minister of State is proposing. I would have far preferred to have an opportunity to discuss and debate them in detail on Committee Stage. To be honest, it is not clear to me what the Minister of State trying to achieve. My fear is that a citizen who wishes to uphold his or her rights will be prevented from seeking justice...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: The Minister of State is asking about-----

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: In respect of the Poolbeg West STZ, the local planning authority increased the requirement for social and affordable housing above the regulated 10% figure. Will this be recognised under this amendment or is there a possibility of inserting in the planning guidelines the recognition of a local authority to increase the number of social and affordable houses above the 10% currently outlined...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report Stage (Resumed) (13 Jun 2018)

Kevin Humphreys: Could the Minister of State clarify what he is saying? Does this control reduce the power of the Minister to not sign off on the SDZ if the local authorities' condition is not included in An Bord Pleanála's decision on the SDZ? It is a reserve function of the Minister?