Results 221-240 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: Could the Leas-Cathaoirleach give us some guidance because there seems to be a contradiction in what is being ruled in or out of order? This is not aimed at the Sinn Féin amendment but the Labour amendment was more of a scalpel than a sledgehammer and would be similar except that we did not mention specific areas. That would be like Senator Murnane O'Connor submitting that...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: It is an inconsistency. It is nothing to do with the Minister.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I complement the Senators on the amendment because this gets to the nub of the problem with the rental sector, namely, the insecurity. I presume the Minister has had the same experiences where families have had to move three, four or five times and their children have had to shift schools. That brings a level of insecurity and the breakdown of friendships, so anything that gives a little...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: While I accept the Minister's good intentions, it is not acceptable to this House to give the power to charge a mediation service fee without coming back to this House first. If it is not the intention or the Minister does not foresee a need in the short to medium term to charge a fee for the mediation service and where he expresses the view that he hopes it will remain free of charge, if...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I cannot accept the argument the Minister has made. It would be prudent to provide that the RTB would have to come back to this House to make the argument for the charging of a fee. The position may change in the future, but it is not acceptable at this stage to give that power to the RTB. It is a free service and it should remain free, unless there is a strong case to be made for charging...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (15 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I accept the Minister's good intentions. He may be right when he predicts that the next Government will be a minority Government. The Government after that could be a majority Government. All we can deal with is the way the legislation in front of us is framed. We cannot take a punt on the composition of the next Government in 2020 or 2028. The manner in which this Bill is framed will...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I echo the remarks made by my colleague, Senator Murnane O'Connor, about unmanned train stations. It is not only a feature of rural Ireland as many of the railway stations in Dublin have been unmanned for quite a long time. That has led to a degree of anti-social behaviour at those stations because the person who manned the station acted as an early-warning signal. He or she could see what...

Seanad: Electoral (Civil Society Freedom) (Amendment) Bill 2019: First Stage (14 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I second the proposal.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: It does not affect them.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: They are primarily resident there and rent out a room. It is still their primary residence.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018: Second Stage (14 May 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for bringing forward this badly-needed legislation. I do not intend to delay its progress on Committee or Report Stages but I have submitted some amendments, which I hope the Minister will have time to consider before tomorrow. One of my concerns relates to the enforcement of short-term lettings. We must make it as easy as possible for...

Seanad: Statement by the Taoiseach (18 Apr 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The Taoiseach is indeed welcome. Many people have mentioned equality, fairness, citizenship, and the Republic. I stand to raise my voice for up to 70,000 apartment owners who live in homes that have a legacy defect. They face bills of between €5,000 to over €50,000 to put right defects to their homes, through no fault of their own. From Blanchardstown to Sandyford and from...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I second my colleague's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, should come into the House to respond on the many issues raised when he was last here when he did not have the opportunity to do so. Many other speakers also did not have an opportunity to speak. I will be opposing the use of the guillotine. Let us be very...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The Leader criticises others for interrupting.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: What happened in Paris was an appalling tragedy. However, more than 70,000 residents throughout this country are living in defective apartment blocks which are possibly fire hazards. In many of them there are fire marshals walking up and down the corridors 24 hours a day. We have raised this issue in the House on many occasions. It is due to light-touch regulation and the 70,000...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I am talking about the risk to life and limb for 70,000 householders. It is ignored on a daily basis, not just in this House but also in the other House. The people in question have not had a listening ear. No one is prepared to listen to them. I feel for what happened in Paris, but I will feel even worse if somebody loses his or her life in this country because the Minister will not...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The Leas-Chathaoirleach let many Fine Gaelers go two or three minutes over time----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: -----while they were talking a load of baloney. When I talk about the risk to life and limb, they are not prepared to listen.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I will not. The Leader heckled me all the way through my remarks. I am sick of the way he deals with the House. The way he is going to guillotine the debate on the Bill with Sinn Féin today is an absolute atrocity.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Apr 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The Leader is still shouting at me and has the protection of the Leas-Chathaoirleach. The guy has hassled and bullied Members all day.