Results 461-480 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Social Welfare Benefits: Motion. (9 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister and support the amendment. I do not know any Minister for social welfare who has done as much work and spoken as much on pensions as Deputy Brennan. As the Minister has pointed out, we have a serious problem. Of the 2 million people in the workforce 900,000 have no private or work pension and a high proportion of those are women. I would like the Government to do more...

Seanad: Order of Business. (16 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I support the call for a debate on Iraq, the use of chemical weapons and chemical warfare. I refer to a campaign which has been ongoing for some time in NUI, Galway. I understand there is still a compulsory Irish requirement on those applying for certain professorships in the college and that legislation is on the Dáil Order Paper. Will the Leader inquire as to whether the legislation could...

Seanad: Departmental Properties. (16 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I wish to share time with Senator Ulick Burke.

Seanad: Departmental Properties. (16 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh, for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. There have been reports of the selling off of surplus lands in County Galway for housing. I understand a Government decision was taken in respect of surplus lands held by Departments and agencies. I am aware some lands in the ownership of Departments and agencies are not in use. I often wonder if...

Seanad: Departmental Properties. (16 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I am somewhat disappointed by the reply of the Minister of State as I thought he would have been able to tell us what was happening to health projects such as the one in Portumna. Can the Minister of State confirm that housing will not be developed on these sites? The intended use is the most important issue. Plans existed for Tuam and also for Portumna, which involved South East Galway...

Seanad: Departmental Properties. (16 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: Both.

Seanad: Departmental Properties. (16 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I am surprised the Minister of State did not ask for what use the land in Tuam had been intended. I can tell him it was intended for a hospital.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: Senator Burke forgot about the voice that "like thunder spake, The west's awake! the west's awake!"

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: There is not even romance in Fine Gael now.

Seanad: Order of Business. (17 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I support the calls for a debate on western development. Taking Senator MacSharry's comments we could have a good debate on what is needed and what is happening with the spatial strategy and transport policy. There is an investigation into the lack of response to an ambulance call in the south west. However, this problem exists in many parts of the country. The ambulance service in the...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Statements. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister. I am glad of the opportunity to discuss housing matters. The Minister has clearly set out the approach that the Government and he have taken on housing. I agree with what he said regarding any influence that we, as Oireachtas Members, can have on local authorities. When the dual mandate was abolished, we had the opportunity to have meetings at least annually with our...

Seanad: Iraq War: Motion. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution to this debate. Like other Members, when this matter was discussed briefly on the Order of Business last week, I condemned the use of chemical weapons in Iraq and I am glad the Government amendment refers to that issue. It is ironic that the issue which Members originally debated, namely, the...

Seanad: Hospital Accommodation. (23 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senator Ulick Burke for sharing his time and the Minister of State for attending this debate. The Senator said there is a great need for beds for the elderly, to which the waiting list alone is testament. The reduction in the number of patients from 220 to 80 is significant. The Minister of State will probably say in her reply that Ballinasloe has been earmarked for another centre,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: We have had debates in the past on the issue of disability, to which Senator O'Toole referred. I would like to follow up on the issue of the disabled drivers' regulations. The Department of Finance has a major role in allowing increased flexibility, in particular with regard to disabled passengers. As Senator O'Toole stated, blind people are not included for the purposes of these benefits. We...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I support what was said about the sugar beet industry, particularly what was said about farmers and workers. I know from my own constituency what the closure of the Tuam sugar factory in the early 1980s meant for the people employed in the factory and for those involved in the haulage of beet to the factory. I would like to have the matter discussed. Farmers who have invested in machinery are...

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senator Ormonde for sharing her time. I thank the Minister for State for being here. We should extend the operation of penalty points as quickly as possible. Senator Bannon mentioned bad roads. I was glad that the Loughrea bypass opened last Friday. I am sure the Chairman knows about it.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: The campaign for it started 41 or 44 years ago. Developments such as the bypass help frustrated motorists who have waited in long queues to get through Loughrea. The frustration of motorists often contributes to accidents. Senator Ormonde mentioned speed cameras. We must get them into operation. A great deal of hypocrisy surrounds driving and bad driving. Drivers openly admit they break and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: The Opposition has been waving at trains rather than putting them on tracks. This has been the best year in County Galway for people who use the train to travel to Galway city. The new service that starts in Athlone at 7 a.m. serves Ballinasloe, Athenry, Attymon, Woodlawn and is in Galway city at 8 a.m. That is a great service and I hope the same commuter service will be provided in other towns.

Seanad: Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter on the Adjournment. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am glad that I too am dealing with an issue concerning County Galway because he is familiar with the places involved. I am very concerned by the number of raids and attempted raids on businesses in the north east Galway area over the past two months. In some situations...

Seanad: Oncology Services: Statements. (8 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senator Feeney for sharing her time. I also thank the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power. I want to contribute to this debate because some months ago, I raised an issue with the Minister of State in the House concerning a minor item which is of great importance to me and the people of Tuam. I refer to the provision of funding for two beds...