Results 10,941-10,960 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

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

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

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Jan 2006)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the report by the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution and commend it on the very hard work put into the report. While members of the committee held differing views on the issue, which was acknowledged by the chairman at the launch of the report last night, the Government should act on the report's recommendations as soon as possible.

Seanad: Development Banks Bill 2005: Second Stage. (16 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: I welcome my colleague from Galway, Deputy Treacy, to the House and also welcome the Development Banks Bill. I am delighted that we are now providing for membership of the Asian Development Bank and including Mongolia under the remit of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. There are very serious issues here regarding our commitment to meeting the target of 0.7% of GNP by...

Seanad: University College Galway (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire agus an mBille, agus gabhaim comhghairdeas go háirithe leis an Aire agus le hUachtarán agus foireann Choláiste Phríomh-Scoile na Gaillimhe. Tá foireann an choláiste ag iarraidh an leasú seo a bhaint amach le blianta fada, agus is maith an rud é go bhfuil díospóireacht againn anois sa Seanad ar an mBille seo. Gabhaim comhghairdeas agus buíochas freisin...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: I support Senator Ulick Burke's concerns about the dumping of sludge in Eyrecourt in east Galway. A private dump commissioned by Greenstar will open in east Galway on 1 January while two miles down the road Galway County Council has proposed another landfill. It is very unfair that two landfills would operate within two miles of each other. The local authority has direct involvement in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: Ding, dong, Dingle.

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: On "Liveline" yesterday, nursing home costs were discussed. Some people are removing relatives from nursing homes because of the cost. We should debate the nursing home subvention and home care in the new year. The lack of public beds in the west is serious and would be much worse if it were not for nursing homes.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: In the course of the Bill and its passage through Dáil Éireann I proposed two amendments, which were accepted. These came about as a result of ongoing research in the Office of the Attorney General and following new information from the Departments concerned. I acknowledge the presence of many of the staff who have been assisting us in the Attorney General's office and the work done by...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: We hope the Senator will get a chance to sit on her throne again.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: It is always enjoyable to have debates in this House, which are probably conducted in a more relaxed fashion than in other areas of our democratic system.

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: It contrasts with the debate in the other House this morning but that is democracy in action. I thank the Senators for their appreciation of the work carried out on this Bill and echo their sentiments regarding our research team. The Senators expressed an interest in the electronic database, which is being examined in the Office of the Attorney General. This Bill is a tidying-up operation and...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: We have come back to the House as quickly as possible. Since the publication of the Bill, a new project has commenced in the Office of the Attorney General to devise a comprehensive catalogue of all pre-1922 legislation, with a view to enacting more comprehensive repealing legislation. The next statute law revision Bill will reflect this new approach. However, this does not affect the...

Seanad: Statute Law Revision (Pre-1922) Bill 2004 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil]: Report and Final Stages. (8 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senators for their support for this Bill. Statute law revision may not be the most eye-catching project but it is important work and I am gratified that Senators have given their time and interest to it. Their contributions to the debate as the Bill passed through all Stages demonstrate their belief that we are engaging in a vital endeavour, although there may be no one out there...

Seanad: Oncology Services: Statements. (8 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senator Feeney for sharing her time. I also thank the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Seán Power. I want to contribute to this debate because some months ago, I raised an issue with the Minister of State in the House concerning a minor item which is of great importance to me and the people of Tuam. I refer to the provision of funding for two beds...

Seanad: Crime Levels. (7 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Cathaoirleach for selecting this matter on the Adjournment. I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I am glad that I too am dealing with an issue concerning County Galway because he is familiar with the places involved. I am very concerned by the number of raids and attempted raids on businesses in the north east Galway area over the past two months. In some situations...

Seanad: Order of Business. (7 Dec 2005)

Michael Kitt: The Opposition has been waving at trains rather than putting them on tracks. This has been the best year in County Galway for people who use the train to travel to Galway city. The new service that starts in Athlone at 7 a.m. serves Ballinasloe, Athenry, Attymon, Woodlawn and is in Galway city at 8 a.m. That is a great service and I hope the same commuter service will be provided in other towns.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senator Ormonde for sharing her time. I thank the Minister for State for being here. We should extend the operation of penalty points as quickly as possible. Senator Bannon mentioned bad roads. I was glad that the Loughrea bypass opened last Friday. I am sure the Chairman knows about it.

Seanad: Road Safety: Motion. (30 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: The campaign for it started 41 or 44 years ago. Developments such as the bypass help frustrated motorists who have waited in long queues to get through Loughrea. The frustration of motorists often contributes to accidents. Senator Ormonde mentioned speed cameras. We must get them into operation. A great deal of hypocrisy surrounds driving and bad driving. Drivers openly admit they break and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: I support what was said about the sugar beet industry, particularly what was said about farmers and workers. I know from my own constituency what the closure of the Tuam sugar factory in the early 1980s meant for the people employed in the factory and for those involved in the haulage of beet to the factory. I would like to have the matter discussed. Farmers who have invested in machinery are...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Nov 2005)

Michael Kitt: We have had debates in the past on the issue of disability, to which Senator O'Toole referred. I would like to follow up on the issue of the disabled drivers' regulations. The Department of Finance has a major role in allowing increased flexibility, in particular with regard to disabled passengers. As Senator O'Toole stated, blind people are not included for the purposes of these benefits. We...