Results 10,301-10,320 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

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...

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...

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 — 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...

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 — 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...

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.

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.

Ministerial Responsibilities. (25 Feb 2009)

Michael Kitt: That is good news for Mayo.

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

Michael Kitt: Even though we are straying from the Bill, the question of balanced regional development is a very interesting debate. One of my areas of responsibility is related to local services, so the point made by Senator Hannigan is a good one. We must ensure local services are promoted and protected, especially in some of the most rural areas. Dáil seats are based on population, and that is the...

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

Michael Kitt: Good.

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

Michael Kitt: It might be helpful if I outlined the law and practice in the area. I will start by quoting the Constitution. Article 16.2.6° states no law may be enacted by the Oireachtas providing for less than three members for a constituency. The relevant part of the Electoral Act 1997, which is being largely re-enacted in Part IV of the current Bill, provides that the constituency commission's terms...

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

Michael Kitt: We are discussing the nomination of candidates for the European Parliament elections. The Electoral Act 1997 sets out membership of a constituency commission, as follows: (a) (i) a judge of the Supreme Court, or (ii) following consultation with the President of the High Court, a judge of the High Court, nominated by the Chief Justice, who shall be the chairperson of the Commission, (b) the...

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

Michael Kitt: Section 15 amends the local elections regulations of 1995 by inserting articles 11 to 20 in substitution for the existing ones. These articles cover the nomination of non-party candidates at local elections, bringing the procedures into line with those enacted for Dáil elections in the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2007 and proposed in this Bill for European Parliament elections. The new...

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

Michael Kitt: Yes.

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

Michael Kitt: The referee was a Galway man.

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

Michael Kitt: The whole process starts with the census results, which are the starting point for the consideration of the proportionality of votes in each part of the country. In discussing the commission which gave us the constituencies under discussion, we are talking about a Government decision to draft a Bill. That decision was made and, as I said, it included a decision to accept the commission's...