Results 961-980 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Before we proceed to the next Stage, I wish to ask the Minister about a newspaper report published last weekend which stated that if Rugby World Cup Limited makes profits from the world cup, those profits will be tax free and that will be allowed by this Bill. Is that correct?

Seanad: Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: But is it within the Bill------

Seanad: Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I heard the Minister but I wish to make one other point------

Seanad: Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I have an additional point to make. It will take 30 seconds. It ties back to the Minister's earlier contribution. I will take part in the joint protest mentioned by Senator Ó Donnaghaile if it happens. Cities and towns being involved in this is a key issue. We will have to work with local authorities to ensure that the cities and towns in which matches will take place are at their...

Seanad: Rugby World Cup 2023 Bill 2017: Committee and Remaining Stages (11 Jul 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: The tournament company.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to ask one simple question. What has Dublin done to this Fine Gael Government? In the past year, there has been a total lack of understanding of the issues affecting Dublin. Dublin makes a huge contribution - socially, economically and culturally - to the country but fails to get a fair deal in the context of investment. Dublin needs a loud and clear voice. I have supported a...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I also wish the Leader of the House every happiness in the future. It is great to see the results of the referendum on marriage equality here in the Republic.It is to be hoped marriage equality will come shortly to every part of the Thirty-two Counties, where every citizen will have the right to have his or her love acknowledged. Well done to Senator Buttimer for the work he did during the...

Seanad: National Housing Co-operative Bill 2017: Second Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House, and I congratulate him on his promotion. It is a great honour to serve the Irish people as a Minister, and I know he will do his best. I compliment Senator Norris and Deputy McGuinness and the others who worked to bring the Bill forward. I listened very closely to Senator Norris's contribution. He openly and honestly said this is not a...

Seanad: National Housing Co-operative Bill 2017: Second Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: The Bill deals with demand. If one stops people losing their homes, one stops demand increasing-----

Seanad: National Housing Co-operative Bill 2017: Second Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: -----so we must look at this in a logical way. If the Minister of State wants to deal with supply, I can give him many suggestions on how to do so. One very simple suggestion would be to introduce legislation on short-term lets. This could provide 2,000 units overnight just within the Dublin area, not to mention Cork, Leitrim, Galway or wherever else this could be done. If the Minister of...

Seanad: National Housing Co-operative Bill 2017: Second Stage (28 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: This is the debate the Bill is allowing to take place. However, this will not solve everything, which is why the co-operative and how it can be purchased is an innovative idea. There are pension funds, the ECB and investment institutions that are looking for what I call moral ways to invest money. They are looking for returns but they want to make a contribution to society. I very much...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Last week, we saw a report on breastfeeding and the challenges Ireland faces in this regard. We see from the data that were published that Ireland is 31st out of 41 countries, just slightly above Britain, for breastfeeding rates. This is an important public health issue because there are health benefits of breastfeeding not only for the mother, but also for the child. I believe our poor...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I will not repeat everything that Senator O'Dea has said.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Deputy O'Dea. Sorry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I listened to him speak in the Dáil last night and thought, for a second, that he had announced his retirement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I have a question on head 5. I understood that social welfare overpayments are always recouped over a period. The proposed change in head 5 is to provide the Minister with the power to further punish somebody convicted in our courts of social welfare fraud. If the change is passed, the provision will allow the Minister to cut a person's weekly social welfare payment by up to 25% for a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: The key to the question is that there is a process in the court and a punishment if the accused is found guilty, as in the witness's cases. Another process outside the judicial system is now overlapping with it. With or without discretion the case was tried and the punishment was handed out. The proposal under head 5 is to put an additional punishment on top of that. That is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Even if it is one percent it is swaying into the judicial area, and that would set a precedent. As a legislator on this side of the House we have to protect judicial independence very strongly.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: It is not a matter of liking it or not, it is actually the legal content.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: General Scheme of Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017: Discussion (1 Jun 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I disagree. I apologise to Ms. Stack for interrupting her. There is a separation between the judicial and the legislative, and this is the legislative moving into the judicial area. That is the key. Deputy O'Dea would probably have an opinion on that, but we are overstepping the mark by even putting a document such as this out. It is really worrying. Forgive me for saying this, but I...