Results 741-760 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt
- Written Answers — Debt Relief: Debt Relief (3 Jul 2007)
Michael Kitt: Increasing efforts are being made to tackle the problem of debt owed by developing countries to the International Financial Institutions, in particular the World Bank, African Development Bank and IMF. The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative was introduced in 1996 and strengthened and enhanced in 1999. It sought the reduction of the debt burden of qualifying countries to...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (3 Jul 2007)
Michael Kitt: The situation in the ecologically and politically fragile region of the Horn of Africa is a high priority for Ireland, the EU and the United Nations. The problems faced by the countries of the region include the ongoing conflicts in Darfur and Somalia; a prolonged stalemate in the Ethiopia-Eritrea peace process; and the need to rebuild southern Sudan following decades of civil war. At a...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (3 Jul 2007)
Michael Kitt: HIV/AIDS continues to be the single biggest obstacle to reducing poverty and to attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Current statistics from the United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) indicate that, in 2006, almost 40 million people were living with the HIV virus. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the worst-affected region in the world and is now home to over 25...
- Foreign Conflicts. (2 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: I thank Deputies Higgins and Costello for raising this issue. On behalf of the Government, I welcome this opportunity to comment on the recent events in Burma. The Government remains gravely concerned at the appalling situation in Burma. The people of Burma have made clear their demands for democracy, national reconciliation and an end to military dictatorship and the Irish Government and...
- Foreign Conflicts. (2 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: The Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, in his address today to the UN General Assembly in New York, will again highlight our concerns. He is taking every opportunity while at the General Assembly and in Washington to discuss the situation in Burma with the UN Secretary General, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and other leaders. The situation in Burma is truly deplorable, but we...
- Foreign Conflicts. (2 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: I will return to that point. We will continue to demand that the Burmese military regime desists from further violence against its own people, releases all recent and longer-term detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi, initiates inclusive dialogue with the democratic opposition and ethnic minorities, prioritises national reconciliation, and co-operates in full with the UN and the demands of...
- Charities Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (10 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: He is a good Galway man.
- Seanad: Burma: Motion (11 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: I thank the Chair for his kind words and am glad to address this important issue in the House. I welcome this all-party motion on Burma and the further opportunity to set out the Government's views, which I know are widely shared across both Houses of the Oireachtas and throughout the country. Although a semblance of calm has returned to cities and towns in Burma and the military regime...
- Passports Bill 2007: Order for Second Stage (18 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."
- Passports Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The purpose of the Passports Bill is to provide a comprehensive legislative basis for the regulation and issuance of passports. Over recent years, we have seen a rapid growth in international travel and a corresponding increase in demand for passports. More than 630,000 Irish passports were issued last year, compared with 468,000 in 2003...
- Passports Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate on the Passports Bill. Like many Members, this is an important Bill. The tone and content of the debate was constructive. There is a great deal of consensus in this area. We all share a desire to ensure that our citizens obtain the highest level of service and security. It has been remarked to me that the Bill is very accessible. In...
- Passports Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: Deputy Timmins raised the issue of the biometric passport.
- Passports Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: I will deal with the Deputy's query later. The Passport Office is the only State service which operates on the ground in all 32 counties. There are 70 post offices throughout Northern Ireland which are part of the overall network for processing passport applications. The level of applications made through Northern post offices has been rising steadily in the past two years. This trend is...
- Passports Bill 2007: Second Stage (18 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: Next Tuesday, subject to agreement with the Whips.
- Millennium Development Goals. (23 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: I share the Deputy's concerns about the rate of progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, in many countries. The Millennium Development Goals report, launched this July, gave us a snapshot of the progress achieved at the midpoint of the 2015 MDG target date. It is indeed a mixed picture. On the positive side, it shows that the proportion of people living in...
- Millennium Development Goals. (23 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: Regarding the so-called neoliberal model mentioned by the Deputy, economic policies based on each country's specific situation are required. I hope this will emerge from inclusive and country-level debate within the democratic process in the country in question. Ireland supports a country specific approach. I agree with the Deputy and cannot see why a neoliberal policy or any externally...
- Millennium Development Goals. (23 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: There are some good examples where progress is being made and the Deputy has given some. Progress has also been made in Zambia, Tanzania and Uganda. The Deputy mentioned countries with difficulties. Alternative ways should be provided to deliver aid through the UN and our NGOs and missionaries if, for example, economic instability or other difficulties arise in a country and we cannot...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (23 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: Assistance to development organisations operating in Nepal has totalled â¬2.6 million since 2004, as follows: 2004 â¬448,468 2005 â¬596,620 2006 â¬600,533 2007 â¬988,041 The funding has been provided under a number of different schemes, including funding for missionary organisations, volunteer programmes, and funding for long-term development under the Civil Society Fund in the areas...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (23 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: There has been a sharp deterioration in 2007 in the security and humanitarian situation in Sudan, particularly Darfur. The current crisis represents a significant challenge to efforts to help the people of Sudan. Humanitarian access remains very difficult for aid workers in their efforts to reach those most in need. The security situation within some of the camps remains very volatile. In...
- Written Answers — Humanitarian Emergencies: Humanitarian Emergencies (23 Oct 2007)
Michael Kitt: The Rapid Response Corps is a key component of the Government's Rapid Response Initiative. This Initiative is designed to enhance Ireland's overall response to humanitarian emergencies. The Rapid Response Corps consists of a roster of highly-skilled individuals who can deploy at short notice to emergency situations. The campaign to recruit members to this roster was launched in February 2007....