Results 981-1,000 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

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

Kevin Humphreys: The current maximum deduction from social welfare payments is 15%. Will the officials clarify if it is underpinned by a statutory instrument or regulation and, if so, if the relevant statutory instrument or regulation will have to be changed?

Seanad: Order of Business (31 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I formally second my colleague's amendment regarding the sale of AIB shares. It would be a nonsense if this House did not express an opinion on this issue. This will probably be the biggest fiscal decision made in the past two years. We have young children in the Public Gallery today. We constantly hear of the problems and the need for investment in schools. We constantly hear of the...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: After all, it might be his last performance.

Seanad: Order of Business (31 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: To be honest with the Leader, this may be everyone's last performance if Leo calls an election.

Seanad: Proposed Sale of AIB Shares: Statements (31 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I welcome the Minister to the House. It is probably his last visit to the Seanad as Minster for Finance, because he has indicated that he is not seeking reappointment. I note that he has said he is not standing for re-election, so I wish him the very best in his retirement and I acknowledge the lengthy public service he has given. As a Government bankbencher in the previous Dáil, I...

Seanad: Proposed Sale of AIB Shares: Statements (31 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Unfortunately, the joke is on the citizens of Ireland. A sum of €20.9 billion was put into AIB to recapitalise it. That is clearly where the joke is at the moment. I certainly do not support the sale of 25% of the shares. Questions need to be asked and identified. I would like to see the fees being paid to Rothschild and the other advisers in respect of the sale of this 25% being...

Seanad: Proposed Sale of AIB Shares: Statements (31 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: The Fianna Fáil members should compare their speeches to that of the party spokesperson on finance, Deputy Michael McGrath.

Seanad: Proposed Sale of AIB Shares: Statements (31 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan the very best in retirement. The Labour Party and I believe that this is the wrong time to sell AIB shares. I ask the Minister to review that decision and that there be a democratic vote in the Dáil saying that the Minister should not sell the shares and I believe we would have had a similar vote in this House if we had been allowed to put...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I acknowledge the decision made on the national maternity hospital and I hope it proceeds with all speed. It is a badly-needed hospital. The building on Holles Street is very old and not fit for purpose. I would like to see the new national maternity hospital built as soon as possible. I acknowledge the work the public did in highlighting the role of the religious orders. I compliment...

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (Gender Pay Gap Information) Bill 2017: Second Stage (24 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I commend my colleague, the leader of the Labour Party group, on the work she has done on the Bill. Senator McDowell mentioned that many Bills are coming forward but nothing is happening. This is constantly happening in the House. I have counted 141 Bills that have been passed Second Stage in the Seanad and the Dáil but have not progressed. To me this is unacceptable. If the...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I certainly know that last night should have been a night of joy and happiness for many parents, when their children were in many cases going to a concert for the first time unaccompanied, or when younger children were accompanied by their parents. For such indiscriminate bombing of those children and that concert to happen is totally unforgivable. My group here within the Seanad sends its...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I do not have a right of reply.

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I welcome the Minister to the House. He has a very wide-ranging and challenging brief. I wish him the very best in that. I have no great problem with the sale of land at Montrose but we need a whole-of-government approach to housing and housing in the capital city. One major developer's proposal, Project Montrose, is to put 500 apartments on the site. In many ways, this is within the...

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Is the Minister from the midlands?

Seanad: Public Service Broadcasting: Statements (23 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I am sorry to interrupt, but it was not dealt with through the planning process. The 25% was agreed outside of the planning process. Given the fact that the Minister is the main shareholder, I believe that we could look at-----

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Senator McFadden has started.

Seanad: Order of Business (9 May 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: I will keep it short. It is an issue I have raised in the House on numerous occasions. This morning in the papers we read about the shortage of rental accommodation across Dublin. Since records started it is the lowest number of vacancies in the Dublin region. I have raised the issue of long-term rental apartments that have moved to the short-term rental market. We have referred to...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Too often we do not acknowledge the progress we have made over the past six years. The unemployment rate six years ago was 15% and there have been enormous improvements and gains in this regard. This is despite issues with regard to bogus self-employed people, precarious employment and low-cost hours. Overall, huge strides have been made in getting people back to work. I was always very...

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: Senator Alice-Mary Higgins was in the Chamber but you moved on.

Seanad: Heritage Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (13 Apr 2017)

Kevin Humphreys: She was.