Results 10,801-10,820 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Jul 2006)

Michael Kitt: The forthcoming budget in December may contain a welcome provision whereby there will be an income disregard for the first €100 of a non-contributory old age pension. While I welcome this I am surprised that people on small supplementary pensions do not have the same benefit. I would like the Minister for Finance to consider this and perhaps we could hold a debate on some of these...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. This Bill is positive and the Minister of State discussed the flexibility involved for people in business, which is extremely important, as is marketing an area and providing car parking. I particularly liked the comment made by Senator Quinn about Christmas lights, which are important for the image and business of a town. Each year for the past...

Seanad: Local Government (Business Improvement Districts) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: I am glad to receive cross-party support. The lighting in Moate makes a scheme such as this very relevant. It is a matter of traders coming together to brighten up an area and market it. The Minister of State provides flexibility and innovation in these proposals. It will give great impetus for the further development of our towns and villages. This Bill provides an opportunity to put such...

Seanad: Housing (Stage Payments) Bill 2006: Second Stage. (28 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and congratulate Senator Coghlan and his colleagues for producing this Bill. Senator Coghlan has outlined well in the explanatory memorandum the way stage payments arise. He gives an example of two types of house purchase transactions. The first, with which most people in rural Ireland would be familiar, is where an individual arranges with a...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the name change to Éire Ireland, which was announced by the Government. We are following in the footsteps of Finland and Belgium. I also believe the Seanad played a role by holding a good debate on securing recognition for Irish as a working language in the EU. Having our MEPs present for debates was helpful in that regard. I have previously raised the issue of how the Irish...

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: It would be a very boring place if Senator Ross did not do so.

Seanad: Social Partnership Agreement: Motion. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: Corporation tax.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: I heard there was something about debates in the Seanad in the afternoon.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: I was wondering if I was hearing things. We are dealing with a serious issue and I was wondering if Senators Ryan and Brian Hayes were serious. Effectively, this is all about accountability and treating the Taoiseach the same as any other Minister.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: I know he would be happy to be treated the same as everybody else. The Minister for Finance has constitutional responsibility for the administration of all public funds. As Senator O'Rourke said, what Senator Ryan suggested is touching on a dictatorial type of regime. If this is a flavour of a new potential rainbow between my two colleagues on the right I would have some concerns. Effectively...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: Senator Brian Hayes's party leader who was in the Chamber earlier has posters up around Dublin indicating he will lock up criminals. This suggests he is going to ignore or overrule——

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: ——the courts system and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. A theme is emerging that we should have an all-powerful Taoiseach. That would be very dangerous.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: Let us be careful. We have a steady, accountable system in place to which the Taoiseach is happy to adhere. As Senator Mansergh said, the Taoiseach has to choose his lieutenants wisely, particularly the Minister for Finance. I have worked with many Ministers for Finance and the current Minister for Finance is a responsible and enlightened Minister who takes his role seriously in liaising with...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: It is always a particular pleasure to be here in the Seanad.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: For some reason I feel most relaxed here. We have done some very good work here over the years. With regard to this Bill, we have had differences, in particular with Senator Ryan, as my colleague has mentioned. He did me the courtesy of approaching me with regard to a certain error in the Bill prior to coming into the Chamber. I appreciated that. We sorted out the issue. That is what the...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: As Senator Mansergh and I said on Committee Stage yesterday, the Long Title of the Bill is merely a descriptive term outlining what is contained in the Bill. What counts is what is in the body of the Bill itself. In the Irish version, the names of the bodies were inserted into section 6 of the Bill on Committee Stage in the Dáil in response, quite rightly, to Opposition amendments. On the...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: I would be glad to allow Senator Mansergh to contribute.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: This Bill has been in gestation for some time. We have progressed along the way and have listened to the Opposition. We have, rightly, done something in section 6 with regard to the Irish language. Senator Ryan is coming forward with a proposal at this stage. Whatever about the Parliamentary Counsel, Senator Ryan is right in saying that the responsibility rests with the Minister at the end of...

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: The amendment proposes to delete the words "unless the context otherwise requires" from section 2, which lists the definitions. I am advised by the Parliamentary Counsel that this is no longer required as a result of the Interpretation Act. This is a tidying-up exercise.

Seanad: National Economic and Social Development Office Bill 2002: Report and Final Stages. (21 Jun 2006)

Michael Kitt: I will pursue that issue.