Results 21-40 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: Like Senator Norris, I think this is a very good budget.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the motion proposed by Senator Minihan. The Minister in his address to the Dáil explained the circumstances surrounding this budget. He mentioned that the economic situation was not as favourable as in other years and used the word "moderate" to describe the changes he had made. I welcome his address and I am glad he put emphasis on the roads issue, one of the most important facing...

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I do not know if wine is as humble as the pint, but the Minister has left it as it is. Another welcome announcement concerns improvements with regard to the transfer of land to young farmers. It is a big issue, on which I know you, a Chathaoirligh, have views. The Minister also dealt with the closing of loopholes and said urban renewal schemes would end in 2004. There have been very good...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I join Senator Brady in welcoming the reduction in the number of road deaths so far this year and the fact there were no road fatalities last weekend. I congratulate the Minister for Transport on the introduction of the penalty points system which, with the road safety advertising campaign and the clampdown on drink-driving, has been effective. I ask the Leader to send a message from the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I welcome this legislation. The push for its introduction came from the local authorities, whose members have observed the problem in the supply of housing. The Minister said that the Bill is primarily about housing supply and promoting social integration. I welcome the fact that it not only deals with amending Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, but that it also provides for...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: An interesting issue that surfaced in Galway – the second largest county in Ireland – was that applicants did not have a contract with their builders but local authorities did have them. That was important and the Minister actively worked on that. The Minister might clarify certain conditions applying to the provision of affordable housing. Purchasers were told initially that if they were...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: The Senator should support the Minister.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: When Senator O'Meara mentioned the issue of social segregation, it reminded me of the court case about which we heard yesterday in which the judge commented that just because people living beside each other might both be living in expensive houses, it does not necessarily mean they will get on. There is always a difficulty in dealing with segregation. Senator O'Meara wanted to remove the word...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: The Minister referred to section 96 of the Principal Act in relation to the two year withering rule. He said that normal rules would apply in relation to the duration of planning permissions. I recall a time when a planning permission had a duration of seven years which was then reduced to six years and later to five. What were the circumstances of the introduction of the two year planning...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: We will be discussing the Appropriation Bill tomorrow.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I join the Minister and other Senators in welcoming the work of the voluntary housing sector. I spoke about this matter yesterday on Second Stage and mentioned RESPOND and Clúid in County Galway and other agencies which have done excellent work in conjunction with the local authorities. I hope local authorities will look at the issue of returning emigrants. I am sure the Minister is aware...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: Now.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: As spokesperson for the environment, I also thank the Minister. This is a good Bill and I am glad he has listened to our contributions. Like him, I hope it will lead to an increase in the supply of houses, an objective on which all of us are agreed.

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, to the House and wish her well in the Department of Education and Science. I compliment her on the work she is doing in the area of adult education. In the last Dáil I was chairman of the committee on education and one of the issues we addressed by way of report was literacy levels. We sought funding for adult education and the situation...

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: When I was teaching, there were no remedial or resource teachers or classroom assistants and the school psychological service had not been established. These issues were addressed during the years and 2,900 additional teachers, for example, have been appointed since 1997 at an annual cost of €116 million. The Government has done well, but I take Senator Browne's point that many of those...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Projects. (17 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Chair for taking this matter about school buildings in County Galway on the Adjournment. I also thank the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy de Valera, for coming to the House. I am concerned about the 400 building projects on the Department's programme, particularly the 40 in County Galway which are at architectural planning stage. Five of these...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the Social Welfare Bill. I congratulate the Minister and welcome her to the House. The people Senator Bannon meets are very different from those I meet. Most of the people I have met are happy with the budget. They knew it would not be as good as other budgets but they are certainly happy.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: That is not true.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: If the Senator allows me to make my contribution he can decide later. It is interesting to note that under successive Ministers for Social and Family Affairs, including the former Minister, Deputy Woods, the introduction of insurance contributions has meant that more pensioners are in receipt of contributory pensions, particularly the self-employed category, which includes farmers. That is a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I join in the tributes to you, a Chathaoirligh, and the staff, and particularly to John McCabe who played a great role in the committee system when it was in Kildare House where circumstances were more difficult than they are now. I support Senator O'Toole's comments on students who did not receive their junior certificates. If 906 students did not get certificates in 2001, I wonder how many...