Results 501-520 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I also seek a debate on the Great Southern Hotels. Senator Cox mentioned that two of the group's hotels are located in Galway city. The Corrib Great Southern Hotel is well known for its conference business, with the teachers unions, in particular, holding their annual conferences there on occasion. I hope any debate on the issue would be open-ended. I am concerned at the lack of public...

Seanad: Strategy for Men's Health: Statements (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am very glad to have the opportunity to discuss the issue of men's health. In the executive summary of the report, entitled Getting Inside Men's Health, there is a reference to the fact that the predominant players in decision making are men. However, they do not lobby or campaign or argue on the issue of men's health to the same extent, for...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (8 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister, particularly what he has said in a definite statement that work will shortly commence on phase 1 of the M50 upgrade. I have known the Minister down the years and he has always given us dates when we have looked for infrastructure development. In developing the western rail corridor he gave dates when the railway would come to various parts of the west. He is doing the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: It is only fair to say that the late Jack Lynch was the first Taoiseach to my knowledge who appointed people other than his party political associates to the Judiciary. Every Taoiseach since then, as the Cathaoirleach knows, has also appointed——

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: ——people from all parties and from no party.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: Senator Ross tried to rewrite history by stating that when a party gets into power it appoints its own people. It is wrong to state that and it is a great disservice to the people serving in the Judiciary. I want to clarify that point and make clear that it has been the practice since 1977 that taoisigh have appointed people from all parties and no parties.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome the opportunity to return to this debate. We had a good debate last year on the planning guidelines on rural housing. We welcomed what the Minister said at the time about promoting and supporting a vibrant rural community. The guidelines on sustainable rural housing, published in March 2004, provided an opportunity to comment...

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank her for staying through the debate. I also pay tribute to Senator O'Toole for his work as general secretary of the INTO, of which I am proud to say I am still a member. For this reason, I get Intouch, the INTO's magazine, which I regard as the gospel.

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I take a different view than Senator Tuffy on the INTO and complaints about what must be done. In the December issue of the INTO's magazine, the general secretary commented that, at last, there is progress on class sizes. The magazine goes on to read that this promised reduction in class sizes is the first for four years. The issue also states that much more work must be done, with which I...

Seanad: Third Level Education: Statements (Resumed). (22 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak on the Fottrell report. I discussed undergraduate medical education with Professor Fottrell, who has produced an excellent report, many years ago when he was president of University College Galway. We are all aware of the difficulties arising from the high points required to gain entry to medicine...

Seanad: Local Authority Services: Motion. (22 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I support the motion proposed by my colleagues. I commend Senator Feighan on his very constructive contribution. Senator Bannon was so negative that I thought he wanted to abolish local authorities. I am glad the motion mentions ——

Seanad: Local Authority Services: Motion. (22 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: ——the €2.94 billion in funding that was provided last year. The local government fund allocation for 2006 was €874.5 million. There was also an increase in the road grant for 2006, with a €24 million increase in County Galway alone and a 7% increase for Ballinasloe Town Council. Today, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs announced an extra €6 million for...

Seanad: Local Authority Services: Motion. (22 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: The objectives of the design build operate schemes may not be fully understood by every local authority. Many small schemes could now start under the Minister's initiative. However, I see problems if these schemes are part of a bundle and cost more than €5 million. We can surely proceed with either the treatment section or the collection system without having to wait for the other to...

Seanad: Local Authority Services: Motion. (22 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I do not like the negative comments from the Opposition. We should be try to be positive and resolve the programme for 2006.

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: Some 12 years ago I was my party's spokesman on emigration and I would support a debate in this House rather than a meeting of party leaders on the question of emigrants. It should not just be a question of representation in this House. As Senator O'Toole knows, the debate began with votes for emigrants, some 12 years ago. We stood on our heads looking for a way to allow emigrants to vote,...

Seanad: Order of Business. (23 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: This is particularly with regard to helping returning emigrants with issues such as housing and other welfare needs. I join Senator Norris in calling for a debate on Iraq. What is happening there is appalling, and it is heading towards a civil war. There are other issues also with regard to Palestine, and Iran's potential involvement there. Iran has many questions to answer. I would support a...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (23 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Minister for coming before the House. The village of Milltown near Tuam in County Galway lies on the N17 close to the County Mayo border. As one of the tidiest towns in the county it has won many Tidy Towns awards. It is a source of frustration and disappointment that construction of a sewerage scheme planned to commence in Milltown some years ago has been postponed until 2007. I...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (23 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive reply which clarifies several of the matters I raised.

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Michael Kitt: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following: —recognises that Ireland, as with all EU Member States, is required to adopt a nitrates action programme, including appropriate mandatory regulatory provisions, in order to give effect to the 1991 EU nitrates directive; —notes that 20% of groundwater in Ireland has nitrate concentrations...

Seanad: Nitrates Directive: Motion. (1 Mar 2006)

Michael Kitt: I also remind Senator Bannon that former Fine Gael Deputy, Ivan Yates, was Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry from 1994 to 1997 and had the opportunity to do something about this. The simple fact is that this matter was left hanging until the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government had the courage to grasp the issue. The Government must address it because Ireland...