Results 161-180 of 5,587 for speaker:Kevin Humphreys

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The budgetary function of local authorities is extremely important. I speak from experience as the leader of the Labour Party group on Dublin City Council for several years where there were year-on-year reductions in the commercial rates. We said at the time that it was prudent to reduce the commercial rates. It is worthwhile compiling the circular letter and including the information...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: He corrected himself.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: Senator Craughwell seems to be indicating that there is agreement but my understanding is that there is an agreement to meet to discuss these measures, not an agreement on the part of the Minister to concede to the amendment.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: That is clear, then.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: It would probably be a step down for the Senator to be a Minister, given that he had wanted to be President.

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Committee and Remaining Stages (10 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I move amendment No. 4:In page 18, line 43, to delete “year.”.” and substitute the following:“year.”,(e) (i) in paragraph 19(1) of the Fourth Schedule, by the substitution of “a member of either House of the Oireachtas or of a local authority or a representative in the European Parliament” for “a member of either House of the Oireachtas...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The Minister of State is very welcome, as are his officials who have done a massive amount of work on this legislation. I will raise a couple of points. People have been talking about the funding of local government. Local government has been struggling with regard to funding since the abolition of domestic rates without proper provision being made for other funding. If that balance had...

Seanad: Local Government Rates and Other Matters Bill 2018: Second Stage (9 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I have said I support equalisation, but it must be done through central taxation if we want more people to pay and buy into local property tax. We must look at people who are earning huge amounts of money and can afford to pay the taxation to afford the equalisation. People who are living in terraced houses are paying huge property tax compared to what people in Donegal, Leitrim or...

Seanad: Climate Action Plan: Statements (4 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I welcome the Minister. I rile against the idea of a policy of what we can do. I firmly believe that this is a policy of what we must do. On climate change, it has reached the stage that the policies that we must implement have to take effect next week, not next month, next year or in the distant future. I welcome the sensible approach of 180 actions and several sub-actions. It follows...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I welcome the fact that other Senators have raised the issue of dementia, Alzheimer's disease and the supports that are needed. I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate in the House early in the autumn while one can still have some influence over budgetary matters. A cross-party group has been working with the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland about additional supports for dementia and...

Seanad: EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (3 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I have.

Seanad: EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Statements (3 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I will try not to use all the time available to me. This agreement should not come as a surprise given that it has been negotiated over 20 years. I recognise that there are problems in the beef-farming industry. That difficulty has to be recognised and in some way alleviated as we go forward. I believe in fair trade deals. Trade deals have to be fair. We have a small open economy. We...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I also raise the trade agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Before the Minister comes to the House, people should sit down and read the trade agreement. It is important to have a balanced discussion rather than sound bites based on IFA press releases. The agreement is far-ranging and analysing the detail is important. If we support climate-change measures, as I do, we...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: Senator Norris is not getting marks for effort.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I wish to add my good wishes to Senator Grace O'Sullivan on her departure for Brussels. She will make a fantastic contribution there, as she has made a strong contribution in this House. I wish her the very best. For three years, I regularly raised the issue of short-term lettings and Airbnb in the House in order to ensure that we got legislation and regulation on the issue. That...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: Since last year, local authorities have been seeking resources in order to ensure that the legislation can be enforced. However, they have been denied those resources. It is pointless for Members of the Seanad or the Dáil to bring forward legislation and regulation that will have a substantial impact on local communities if the Government is going to fall at the last hurdle, namely,...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: The Leader can interrupt me as much as he likes, but the fact is that the Government talks but does not deliver.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I am sick of it. I request that the Leader bring the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to the House to answer-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: I apologise to the Leas-Chathaoirleach-----

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jun 2019)

Kevin Humphreys: -----but, unfortunately, when the Leader hears things he does not want to hear, he speaks over people.