Results 1,121-1,140 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (18 Feb 2009)

Michael Kitt: Yes.

Ministerial Responsibilities. (25 Feb 2009)

Michael Kitt: That is good news for Mayo.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Feb 2009)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Senator for this opportunity to clarify the position regarding waste water facilities and the standards applicable to urban waste water discharges from the towns and villages she mentioned. The urban waste water treatment directive dictates specific standards of treatment for municipal waste water discharges. The level of treatment depends on the size of the population and the...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Feb 2009)

Michael Kitt: I do not have the answer to that question, but I understand it is a matter for Donegal County Council to review the priority of these schemes.

Public Finances: Motion (3 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: There is a parliamentary party meeting taking place.

Public Finances: Motion (3 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: Hear, hear.

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (3 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: The provision of a fire service, including equipment, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities. The Department supports the authorities through the setting of general policy and the provision of capital funding including the recoupment (within the overall funding available) of costs incurred by the authorities in relation to the purchase of fire appliances. The allocation...

Housing Grants. (4 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Finneran. I thank Deputy Feighan for giving me the opportunity to speak about the operation of the housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability. The Government is very much aware of the critical role of the adaptation grant schemes in the context of an...

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (10 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: The EU Nitrates Directive aims to protect all waters against pollution from agricultural sources. Particular care is required for the protection of public health in the case of waters which serve as the source of drinking water. Following consultation with interested parties, the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006 and 2007 were made to...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: I thank Deputies on all sides of the House for their contributions to the debate. The comments they made focus on the Bill itself and on the electoral agenda in general. We can go into more detailed aspects of the Bill on Committee Stage. I welcome those comments that acknowledged that the scheme of spending limits seeks to bring fairness to the electoral process and facilitate a more level...

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: The Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003 and Building Regulations 1997- 2008 include a range of provisions for fire safety in the design, construction, operation and management of buildings (including apartments). Part B of the Building Regulations 1997 sets out the fire safety requirements to be observed in the design and construction of certain buildings including apartment complexes. Section...

Written Answers — Air Quality: Air Quality (11 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: Monitoring at permanent and mobile monitoring stations by the EPA and local authorities confirms that air quality in Ireland is good. In addition to monthly reports on ozone, particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, the EPA also publishes an annual report on air quality. My Department keeps this data under ongoing review to identify any significant trends which might emerge and also meets...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (12 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: I am replying to this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. It provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Seanad the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position in regard to Clonakilty community college in...

Seanad: Local Authority Funding (12 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. He has made some very interesting points in his contribution. The Planning and Development Act 2000 provided for a radical overhaul of the development contribution system. One of the central tenets of the reforms under the Act was to introduce greater transparency in the way in which development contributions were levied and applied. Under...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: The reason for bringing forward this Bill is to provide for spending limits for candidates and political parties at local elections. The Bill passed all Stages in the Dáil on 12 March 2009. There are currently no limits on local elections expenditure. Under the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 as amended, all local election candidates are required to...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: They are on the way. These requirements were put in place in 1999 and operated for the 1999 and 2004 local elections. A commitment in the programme for Government provides for spending limits at local elections to be examined in the context of the Green Paper on Local Government. Submissions made in the course of preparing the Green Paper were generally positive towards the introduction of...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009 [Dáil]: Second Stage (24 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senators from all sides for their contributions and welcome their comments. It is not possible for me to respond to all points made but we can go into matters in more detail on Committee Stage. I welcome the acknowledgment that the scheme of spending limits seeks to bring fairness to the electoral process. The joint committee did a great deal on spending limits and the contribution...

Oireachtas Reform: Motion (Resumed) (25 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: I agree with my colleague that we should have a more comprehensive motion before us rather one simply proposing to reduce the number of Ministers of State. I would like a discussion on reform of the Oireachtas and the public service. I welcome the Dáil reform I have seen in my time in the Dáil, in particular in regard to Question Time. There have been many changes in that regard,...

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (25 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: The provision of funding for a fire station at Cloughjordan will be considered under future fire services capital programmes having regard to the overall availability of resources, the spread of existing facilities and the totality of demands of fire authorities for available funds. In autumn 2008, the fire authority indicated that improvement to the fire station at Templemore was their...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (25 Mar 2009)

Michael Kitt: On the earlier point made by Senator Coffey, the Minister will make an order in respect of the number of days. We have provided in the Bill for between 50 and 60 days, as the Senator mentioned. The reason these parameters have been set is to ensure the policy is set in primary legislation. If no upper or lower parameters were set, the Minister of the day effectively would have an...