Results 281-300 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2004)

Michael Kitt: Newspapers are reporting that the Government is seeking official status for the Irish language in the European Union today. I very much welcome this because the Seanad has called for Irish to be recognised as an official working language of the EU. I thank our MEPs for the support they have given us and I hope the application will be successful. Tugaim lán-tacaíocht don Rialtas as ucht an...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (24 Nov 2004)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Callely, to the House and congratulate him on his appointment and the fine work he is doing. He is most committed to transport issues. We are all agreed on the need for an adequate roads infrastructure. I agree with what Senator Mansergh said regarding taking a balanced approach. He advised that we should not take a cavalier approach to road...

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (24 Nov 2004)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter and the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, for coming to the House. I have raised the need for an ambulance base and a primary care unit in Tuam on a number of occasions with the Department of Health and Children and the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin. On 31 May last, the former Minister told me in a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2004)

Michael Kitt: I support the call for a debate on the NRA and road safety. There was a debate on one particular road last week but there are other issues of safety, especially in light of the horrific accident on the M50 at the weekend. The NRA is described as having made a U-turn in today's newspapers, where it is working on safety barriers on the Athlone bypass, but more work is needed. I have called for...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the opportunity to speak and I thank Senator Dooley for sharing his time. In 1980 the Fianna Fáil Government made plans to bring in the decentralisation programme and it was very successful. I was on the Committee of Public Accounts at the time when the Opposition told us we could not move the then Department of Social Welfare out of Dublin because it was so big, as were the...

Seanad: Decentralisation Programme: Statements. (30 Nov 2004)

Michael Kitt: ——particularly by the then Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, who consulted and was of course lobbied by Members on all sides of both Houses to give hub or gateway status to various regions and towns. I am glad that Tuam has hub status but it needs development. There are many issues we could discuss. The Minister of State has given a very good explanation of what is happening. I am glad we...

Seanad: Physical Education Facilities. (30 Nov 2004)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter and the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, for coming to the House. My question relates to the provision of a proper gymnasium at St. Raphael's College, Loughrea, County Galway. It was 28 years ago, in 1976, that the school first requested this facility. The physical education facilities in the school are poor, with no light,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: I join Senator O'Toole in asking for a debate on housing. The rate of construction of housing is very uneven across the country. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has received a number of applications from local authorities for affordable housing, which should be fast-tracked, particularly given that land is now becoming available from health boards and because...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Order for Second Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister to the House. Like Senator Bannon, I wish to pay tribute to Mr. Justice Flood and Judge Mahon and the tribunal. The tribunal's work is very important. The Minister has explained to the House the reason the legislation is required. He made the point about the need to allow the tribunal discretion on the amended terms of reference. The Minister introduced motions which...

Seanad: Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: Amendment No. 29, which was out of sequence, will be taken now.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: I join with other Senators in calling for a debate on Northern Ireland. I agree with Senator Ó Murchú who talked about the example of good neighbours working together. That was clear from the positive press conference yesterday, despite the disappointing outcome. On another issue about good neighbours, I understand the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will sign a...

Seanad: Health Bill 2004: Committee Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: How stands amendment No. 3?

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Order for Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State and I thank him for introducing this welcome Bill. I support what he said in respect of housing supply. It is marvellous that almost 69,000 units were completed in 2003, the ninth record year in a row for house completions. The figures for 2004 also look good. I was interested in his comment that thanks to the serviced land initiative, there is a good land bank...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: Senator Ulick Burke was in power when it was happening.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (15 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister to the House and welcome the Social Welfare Bill. The Minister has done an excellent job in the package he has brought forward. There is a total increase of €874 million, giving a budget of more than €12 billion for the Department. Anyone listening to the debate on the Order of Business this morning would imagine the Government does not care at all about the...

Seanad: Hospitals Building Programme. (15 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senator Ulick Burke for sharing his time. I was delighted when the former Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, announced he was purchasing the old Bon Secours Hospital and surrounding grounds in Tuam. It was a very particular project for the Western Health Board of which Senator Ulick Burke and I were members at the time. We fought very hard to have this property taken...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects. (15 Dec 2004)

Michael Kitt: I wish to share my time with Senator Ulick Burke. This issue concerns Cahergal national school near Tuam, County Galway. Before the last general election several schools in north Galway sought improvements and some wanted new developments. Under the pilot or devolved programme many of those schools and their boards of management have had their wishes fulfilled and work is in progress in...