Results 10,761-10,780 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the report on the Leas Cross nursing home. I understand the nursing home subvention is much higher in the eastern part of the country than it is in, for example, the western region. We must address this issue. I advocate the home-care package, which has been very beneficial and under which up to €150 million was provided in the last budget. That money should be available for...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Kitt: He has highlighted this issue.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Kitt: Senator Ryan's point about banks and pensions is relevant. We have seen what has happened. I raised the issue of banks laying off and transferring staff, and closing branches in smaller towns, which is what I call economic withdrawal. It is also an abuse of staff, which must be stopped.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Nov 2006)

Michael Kitt: I hope we have a debate because I cannot question a Minister or the Taoiseach about banks. We must have the debate in this House.

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (8 Nov 2006)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for coming into the House. There are problems with the water supply and sewerage in Ballygar but tonight I will concentrate on the water supply. Ballygar is a growing town with a primary and secondary school. People are concerned about the poor water pressure in the town and about how the emergency services would cope...

Seanad: Official Languages Act 2003: Statements (1 Nov 2006)

Michael Kitt: Tá an tAire sásta bualadh le comhairleoirí i gCiarraí ar an 17 mí Shamhna agus cuirim fáilte roimhe sin. Tá súil agam go mbeidh sé in ann cúrsaí logainmneacha a réiteach mar tá conspóid ann faoi láthair. Bhí an tAire ar an raidió cúpla lá ó shin agus cuireadh ceist air faoin logainm cheart — Dingle nó Daingean Uí Chúis. Dúirt sé ar an chlár sin go scríobhfadh...

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion (1 Nov 2006)

Michael Kitt: With your permission, a Chathaoirligh, I wish to share my time with Senator MacSharry.

Seanad: Housing Policy: Motion (1 Nov 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister to the House for this interesting debate. I take Senator John Paul Phelan's point that there is a connection between agriculture and housing matters. Like Senator Bannon and other colleagues, I recently met with the Irish Farmers' Association. I found it interesting that the IFA's representatives did not have the doom and gloom approach to which Senator Bannon...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue and I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. Mountbellew, County Galway, is an expanding market town but it has been hampered by the lack of an appropriate sewerage scheme. A number of improvements are needed because new housing estates have been built around the town and others are planned. It has reached the...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (25 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Minister of State for his reply.

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I join in the calls for a debate on road safety. A Drive Safe programme has been devised by a young person in County Galway. The Department of Education and Science has deemed to accept much of the programme, except for the question of driving tuition. The Department does not agree that this should be part of the course. This should be included. It has already been carried out in...

Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: It is very important.

Seanad: White Paper on Irish Aid: Statements (Resumed) (25 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I am delighted we are having this debate because many Members have called for one on development aid, or Irish Aid as the Minister of State called it. I thank him for his great work, the considerable enthusiasm he has shown for this issue and for producing the White Paper on which there was consultation, which is evident in the paper. I agree with Senator Terry on the generosity of Irish...

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Eireann" and substitute the following: "welcomes the recent publication of the Green Paper: Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland, its foundation on three pillars — security of supply, environmental sustainability and economic competitiveness — and its commitment to secure 30% of electricity supply from renewable sources...

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: We will talk about the human population first. An independent study in 2000 carried out in UCD demonstrated that hollow block construction could be insulated to comply with higher thermal performance standards. I am more familiar with the two-block cavity wall, as Senator O'Toole called it. The wooden house type of structure, often referred to as American-style houses, are very popular...

Seanad: Energy Policy: Motion (25 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: There has been a debate involving a particular building company to get rid of the hollow block. If that company wishes to make the case, I am prepared to listen to what has been and will be said. I do not believe it is as big a problem as Senator O'Toole has suggested. I do not foresee the Government suggesting it has any preference for a particular form of house building. The Irish Timber...

Seanad: Mental Health Commission Report 2005: Statements (19 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wish to share my time with Senator Feeney.

Seanad: Mental Health Commission Report 2005: Statements (19 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I am glad that Senator Ryan raised the issue of the development of the new central mental hospital at Thornton Hall. I am reassured by the Minister of State's comments in respect of the hospital having its own identity and a separate facility. This is very welcome. He also made a point about the fact that children are sometimes treated in adult psychiatric wards. I find it difficult to...

Seanad: Mental Health Commission Report 2005: Statements (19 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: Yes. This year's budget and following budgets should contain additional funding for suicide prevention. I commend the Minister of State on what he has done and I hope he can secure the additional funding for disability and psychiatric services for next year.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: Last evening's news featured a report about a bank which has targeted children at a school in Wexford by urging them to open current accounts offering incentives such as bars of chocolate and bags of crisps. This is a hypocritical stance given that banks are closing down small branches in many towns. The Bank of Ireland and AIB have withdrawn services in several towns, including Mountbellew...