Results 10,921-10,940 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Local Authority Services: Motion. (22 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I support the motion proposed by my colleagues. I commend Senator Feighan on his very constructive contribution. Senator Bannon was so negative that I thought he wanted to abolish local authorities. I am glad the motion mentions ——

Seanad: Local Authority Services: Motion. (22 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: ——the €2.94 billion in funding that was provided last year. The local government fund allocation for 2006 was €874.5 million. There was also an increase in the road grant for 2006, with a €24 million increase in County Galway alone and a 7% increase for Ballinasloe Town Council. Today, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs announced an extra €6 million for...

Seanad: Local Authority Services: Motion. (22 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: The objectives of the design build operate schemes may not be fully understood by every local authority. Many small schemes could now start under the Minister's initiative. However, I see problems if these schemes are part of a bundle and cost more than €5 million. We can surely proceed with either the treatment section or the collection system without having to wait for the other to...

Seanad: Local Authority Services: Motion. (22 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I do not like the negative comments from the Opposition. We should be try to be positive and resolve the programme for 2006.

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister to the House and thank her for staying through the debate. I also pay tribute to Senator O'Toole for his work as general secretary of the INTO, of which I am proud to say I am still a member. For this reason, I get Intouch, the INTO's magazine, which I regard as the gospel.

Seanad: Educational Services: Motion. (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I take a different view than Senator Tuffy on the INTO and complaints about what must be done. In the December issue of the INTO's magazine, the general secretary commented that, at last, there is progress on class sizes. The magazine goes on to read that this promised reduction in class sizes is the first for four years. The issue also states that much more work must be done, with which I...

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: It is only fair to say that the late Jack Lynch was the first Taoiseach to my knowledge who appointed people other than his party political associates to the Judiciary. Every Taoiseach since then, as the Cathaoirleach knows, has also appointed——

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: ——people from all parties and from no party.

Seanad: Order of Business. (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: Senator Ross tried to rewrite history by stating that when a party gets into power it appoints its own people. It is wrong to state that and it is a great disservice to the people serving in the Judiciary. I want to clarify that point and make clear that it has been the practice since 1977 that taoisigh have appointed people from all parties and no parties.

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements (Resumed). (15 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I also welcome the opportunity to return to this debate. We had a good debate last year on the planning guidelines on rural housing. We welcomed what the Minister said at the time about promoting and supporting a vibrant rural community. The guidelines on sustainable rural housing, published in March 2004, provided an opportunity to comment...

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (8 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister, particularly what he has said in a definite statement that work will shortly commence on phase 1 of the M50 upgrade. I have known the Minister down the years and he has always given us dates when we have looked for infrastructure development. In developing the western rail corridor he gave dates when the railway would come to various parts of the west. He is doing the...

Seanad: Strategy for Men's Health: Statements (Resumed). (8 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am very glad to have the opportunity to discuss the issue of men's health. In the executive summary of the report, entitled Getting Inside Men's Health, there is a reference to the fact that the predominant players in decision making are men. However, they do not lobby or campaign or argue on the issue of men's health to the same extent, for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (8 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I also seek a debate on the Great Southern Hotels. Senator Cox mentioned that two of the group's hotels are located in Galway city. The Corrib Great Southern Hotel is well known for its conference business, with the teachers unions, in particular, holding their annual conferences there on occasion. I hope any debate on the issue would be open-ended. I am concerned at the lack of public...

Seanad: Social Partnership: Statements. (7 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I am pleased to have the opportunity this afternoon to address the Seanad on the social partnership process. Senators are particularly well placed to evaluate the role of social partnership and to lead a wider public debate about its place in Irish governance. I welcome the launch last week in Dublin Castle of talks on a successor to Sustaining Progress. Talks were unavoidably delayed last...

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (1 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Minister of State knows of my interest in obtaining an ambulance base in Tuam, north-east Galway. I raised this issue on a number of occasions, pointing out that a design for a major health campus was completed in October 2002. This would include a community hospital, an Alzheimer's disease unit, a child care training centre, a primary care...

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (1 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: Is the Minister of State hopeful that we might have some news of an ambulance base in 2006?

Seanad: Ambulance Service. (1 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I am sure the Minister of State will work to bring about what I requested.

Seanad: Strategy for Men's Health: Statements (Resumed). (1 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: Well done.

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Feb 2006)

Michael Kitt: I would like to raise the question of the Ombudsman for Children report which was published last week, in particular, the question of reporting to the Health Service Executive. I was pleased with the proposal of a dedicated phone line. Now that the HSE is such a huge organisation, with the hospitals' office in Naas and primary care headquarters in Limerick, it is important that there is a...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes. (25 Jan 2006)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue and the Minister of State for coming to the House. We have a considerable amount of water schemes in County Galway and I estimate the county has the greatest number of water schemes in the country. I am slightly disappointed that both group water schemes and public water schemes have not progressed recently as much as I would have...