Results 10,561-10,580 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: It is the race to the bottom

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (26 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), adopted in the year 2000 as part of the commitments undertaken by Heads of Government at the Millennium Summit, represent a framework for international economic and social development up to the year 2015. As such they are at the heart of the Government's work in our development cooperation programme. Irish Aid's focus on reducing poverty and...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I thank Deputy Connaughton for raising this issue. The Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09, which the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government published in September 2007, includes more than 50 major water and sewerage schemes, with a...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: I appreciate the opportunity to clarify the position on this scheme. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Freshford is part of the Freshford, Johnstown and Goresbridge sewerage scheme which is approved to advance through planning under the Water Services Investment...

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: Arising from acceptance of amendment No. 16, I ask the Leas-Ceann Comhairle to request the Clerk to move the word "or" on page 9 from line 25 to line 27. It is a technical change.

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: This Bill establishes a statutory right in case of refusal or cancellation of passport for such decisions to be appealed to an independent passport appeals officer. The appeals mechanism is set out in some detail in section 19. Further supplementary and ancillary details will be set out in regulations that will be laid before the House. The independent passport appeals officer mechanism...

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: If the Deputy is talking about citizenship, one would go to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: In reply to Deputy Lynch, the passport appeals office is the speedy and inexpensive means of making a challenge to the Minister's decision. In reply to Deputy Ó Snodaigh, I will give the same answer, the appeals office is the inexpensive route to take rather than going to court. In reply to Deputy Shatter, only one person has been refused in the past three years, according to statistics...

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: We would need to study that point further. Only one person was refused in the past three years.

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: The term "biometric data" is a generic term used to describe the measurement of distinguishing physiological traits of a living person. These data are capable of being used in automated recognition systems. The proposed amendment is too restrictive to allow even for the development of facial recognition technologies. Already technologies are being developed to permit assessment of skin...

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: We are seeking flexibility to enable us to keep up with changing technology. The proposed amendments are too restrictive. If, for example, an international body such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation has a proposal to make we will be prevented from making such changes if we do not have that flexibility. That is the reason I will not accept these amendments.

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: Section 14(1) provides that the consent of all guardians must be sought before issuance of a passport to a child or alternatively, as provided for in section 14(3), a court order dispensing with consent must be obtained. Under the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964, married parents are joint guardians of their children. By contrast, the father of a child born outside marriage is not...

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: Section 16 permits the Minister to issue a diplomatic passport to an officer of the Minister of diplomatic rank or, under subsection (1)(b), to a person or one of a class of persons to whom the Minister considers it appropriate to issue such a passport. This permits reasonably broad discretion to designate who should be eligible for a diplomatic passport. Deputy Lynch's colleague, Deputy...

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: All former Ministers may now be issued with diplomatic passports.

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: I refer the Deputy to section 16 (1)(b) which refers to "a person, or one of a class of persons, to whom the Minister considers it appropriate to issue such a passport". There is broad discretion to designate who should be eligible for a diplomatic passport.

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: I am told that less than 100 have been issued.

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: Yes.

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: High Court judges, for example, are included in that, so the number would be in the region of 100.

Passports Bill 2007: Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: No, they are not included in the numbers for diplomatic passports.

Passports Bill 2007: Order for Report Stage (19 Feb 2008)

Michael Kitt: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."