Results 10,781-10,800 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: School Closures (18 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I wish to share time with Senator Ulick Burke. There was great shock in the Kinvara area on 12 October when the Mercy Order announced it was withdrawing as a provider of education in the Kinvara area and that it would close Seamount College, Kinvara. The order stated it would not take first year students in September 2007. Why have the trustees decided not to appoint a new board of...

Seanad: School Closures (18 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Minister of State. He spoke about the increasing number of girls attending Gort community school. It is only right that I should point out that I understand that only four girls from the parish attend that school. Will the Minister of State raise this point with the Department of Education and Science? I do not see this as evidence of an increasing trend and it is certainly...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: Will the Acting Leader organise a debate on the register of electors, which was referred to earlier? I am mindful of the extremely good work done by local authorities, using enumerators such as those used in the census, to complete a thorough investigation of the register. Many people missing from the register for the last local elections will be added. However, a danger exists that many...

Seanad: Energy Resources: Motion (11 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I very much welcome the publication of this Green Paper, Towards a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland. I strongly support the grants and incentives for alternative and renewable energy. Senator O'Toole asked about the availability of wood pellets and wood chips. I know they are available in north Galway and I hope they are available...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (4 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Cathaoirleach for permitting me to raise this matter and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Browne. This is the second time in the past hour that I have mentioned the town of Glenamaddy. On the first occasion, I referred to the fact that Glenamaddy lost a bank in August. It may have done so but I hope it is about to gain a sewerage scheme. The town of Glenamaddy is famous...

Seanad: Petitions Committee: Motion (4 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House and Senator Tuffy's Private Members' motion. Her point on engaging with young people on environmental matters such as recycling and waste management is relevant. The Sub-Committee on Seanad Reform, led by Senator O'Rourke, has done excellent work. The Taoiseach has a particular interest in Seanad reform...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2006)

Michael Kitt: I support calls for a debate on local government reform, particularly in regard to the provision of housing. A considerable number of people are repaying local authority loans which were taken out in the 1970s and 1980s at interest rates up to 11% or 12% over 25 or 30 years. There should be a major information campaign to inform such persons that they can remortgage at lower rates and for a...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Minister of State for his work on this Bill. It was well debated both in the Dáil and the Seanad. I hope it will prove to be good legislation.

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Noel Ahern, and I welcome this Bill also. I do not see it in the same light as the previous speaker because I do not believe that this is a time bomb. The Building Societies Review Group included representatives of the building societies, Departments and the Financial Regulator. The...

Seanad: Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (6 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: It is indeed and that is what the Minister told me. However, it is only right to put it on the record of the House that the credit union movement is being restricted. If we are going to allow more flexibility for other financial institutions, credit unions should be given the same facility. Credit unions now have over 50% excess liquidity in their accounts and they have no choice but to...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: I support what the Senator said. I will not cover the ground he covered on windmills. I wish to raise the issue of the national spatial strategy which is covered in this group of amendments. Senator Bannon referred to one-off houses. I also have a concern about that and I may deal with it when we reach a later amendment. We should examine the settlement centres and development areas,...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: I very much welcome the inclusion of the environment in this group of amendments. As well as sustainable development, about which Senator Brady spoke, the phrase about proper planning is very important. Senator Bannon referred earlier to the issue of one-off houses. I am sure all of us, including the Minister, are aware of a point made by Senator Bannon regarding different interpretations of...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the subject matter of these amendments. Irrespective of whether applications are for major developments, they should be published in provincial newspapers. Too many applications have instead been published in national newspapers. Will the Minister comment in this regard, as it was my understanding that applications were advertised in local newspapers? Recently, applications for...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: Could the county colours be used?

Seanad: Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (6 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: I strongly support Senator Bannon's position on the views of local authority members. The Minister has been very forthcoming in meeting local authority members and obtaining their views. Senator Bannon is correct with regard to county development plans, budgets and annual reports in that every assistance should be given to councillors. It is also important to state that Oireachtas Members...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: Senator Brian Hayes made a very interesting point about a cross-party committee but we should also say that eventually decisions must be made and the talking must stop. No. 25, motion 7, on the Order Paper is a Fine Gael motion that calls on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to give this House a definitive timescale for the final introduction of electronic...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: Yesterday, the Minister used the example of west Limerick, where a candidate lost by one vote and 400 spoiled votes, which is hardly proof of a fair system. Perhaps Senator Ryan said that the wrong candidate was eliminated.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: The second point made by the Minister was that it would cost €0.5 million to resolve problems associated with the electronic voting software. If electronic voting can be introduced in India, it can be introduced here.

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: We should develop a system of electronic voting, which is obviously the way to go, and stop continually criticising the system.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: A one-off house.