Results 1,321-1,340 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Priorities for Department of Social Protection: Minister for Social Protection (7 Sep 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: It is also useful to note that the payments of the two companies involved are tied to customer satisfaction. If they decline a jobseeker, they can actually lose money. That is worth noting as well. It is interesting to see the low number of complaints.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to give notice to the Leader that I intend to move an amendment to the Order of Business in respect of the Taoiseach coming to the House, particularly if he cannot provide some positive news on the date and time for such a visit. Since this new Seanad began meeting, we have been listening to references to new politics. We have heard these in the Dáil as well. In every debate,...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I move the motion now to call the Taoiseach to the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: For the purpose of having him explain and define what he means by the term "new politics" and in respect of the programme for Government.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: The Leader gave a commitment that the Taoiseach will come to the House on 29 September next. Undoubtedly, it is due to me pressing this matter for the last four weeks. One can count on two fingers the number of times the Taoiseach came to the House-----

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: -----in the last five years. I thank Senator Wilson for his support. I support his suggestion that the Taoiseach should schedule three visits to this House every year. It might resolve the Fine Gael problem regarding the exit issue for the Taoiseach. If he has to come to this House three times every year, he might resolve that issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: This is a very interesting debate. To follow up on Senator Higgins' point, bogus self-employment is increasingly becoming an issue. Hardly a week goes by when I do not meet somebody in the construction industry, the IT sector or the media who is being forced down into bogus self-employment. They are taking all the risks and getting none of the benefits. This is an increasing problem....

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: That is the package.

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Is that on the record of the House?

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I am so disappointed with the level of dishonesty in this debate, especially the dishonesty of Fianna Fáil on this issue.Fianna Fáil adopted the river basin management plan in July 2010, which Marian Harkin MEP confirmed. It was confirmed by Deputy Eamon Ryan in the Dáil a couple of weeks ago that it was agreed at Cabinet level when the Green Party was in coalition with Fianna...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: This is the thing about Fianna Fáil members. When one says something they do not like, they are ready to jump in. They are not challenging facts, but those are the facts. They signed the memorandum of understanding. All three things are fact. That is what Fianna Fáil does. They got scared about Sinn Féin and rushed to be popular rather than to do the right thing by the...

Seanad: Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016: Second Stage (15 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: It had suggested €700 per year.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Approximately two weeks ago I raised with the Leader on the Order of Business a request for the Taoiseach to come before the House. With the settling down of what happened two weeks ago, a serious discussion must be held with the Taoiseach on new politics and how our Constitution is treated. Through sleight of hand, Article 28 of the Constitution, relating to collective Cabinet...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I raised this matter with the Leader two weeks ago.

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I thank the Minister. He will find the Department of Social Protection a very interesting Department. In his opening contribution, he said he was interested in people's suggestions. His budget is about €20 billion, and about €35 billion has been spent so far based on the suggestions made here. Social welfare payment rates have been quite static due to the recession. It was...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I am finishing on this point. Instead of letting the problem continue to grow, will the Minister consider, at an early stage, automatic enrolment in pension funds to try to alleviate the problem? During the recession, while unemployment rates were high, there were many challenges facing the Department of Social Protection. Now that the storm clouds have eased slightly for some, there is an...

Seanad: Social Protection: Statements (12 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: Yes.

Seanad: Communications, Climate Action and the Environment: Statements (6 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: I congratulate the Minister. I hope to be able to work with him on this subject, which I hold very close to my heart. Previous speakers have said the Minister must take on this interest group, the IFA, and another interest group in regard to major articles in The Irish Timesthis week about forestry in Leitrim. No matter which way we go on climate change and how we address it, it will not...

Seanad: Communications, Climate Action and the Environment: Statements (6 Jul 2016)

Kevin Humphreys: We have an energy regulator but it is not viable for local communities to apply for a licence. They may have to wait seven to ten years to find out if there will be a connection and if they can proceed. That is fine for a major developer travelling around the country and taking options on sites with a view to what is down the road. There are road blocks there. We must facilitate community...