Results 10,981-11,000 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Kitt: Let us consider the relationship between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. The Taoiseach has had to hold many meetings. Someone decried that he met people in his constituency office, which I believe is to his credit.

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Kitt: At late hours and early hours he met various individuals to move the process along and full credit is due to him. While it is great to have official meetings in Government Buildings, Iveagh House, Stormont etc., it is vital to have informal meetings moving the process along. All those meetings were held for the right reasons which is why we are where we are. Many Senators expressed concern...

Seanad: Corrib Gas Field: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. His contribution to the debate was very useful. As he said in his opening remarks the issue has moved on considerably in the past week in that the injunction has been lifted and the five Rossport men have been released. It is a matter of regret to me, as it is to everybody in the House, that five decent men were jailed for 94 days. The Minister of...

Seanad: Corrib Gas Field: Statements. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Kitt: Agreed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Oct 2005)

Michael Kitt: The western railway inter-county committee held a meeting yesterday. That committee was founded by Fr. Micheál MacGréil approximately 25 years ago and has the support of local authorities from Sligo to Limerick. There was a strong feeling among committee members that, although there is much speculation about metro development, port tunnels and outer ring roads, there has been very little...

Seanad: Early Childhood Education: Statements (Resumed). (5 Oct 2005)

Michael Kitt: I take up the point that Senator Terry made on giving parents a choice and having the child at the centre of any child care proposals. That is one of the more important issues being discussed here. Although we do not need a debate on whether parents should work, we have all seen the statistics on the increase in female participation in the labour force. An emphasis existed in the past on...

Seanad: Order of Business. (29 Sep 2005)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, particularly the comments of the Chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, Deputy Noonan, regarding his committee having an early look at some projects rather than, as he said, looking at projects when the horse has left the stable. Senator Maurice Hayes referred to the fact that it has always been a tradition that the Committee of...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Minister and his officials, as well the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who introduced the debate, for a very interesting debate on Second Stage. The Minister was about to say what I want to say. The debate was very good humoured. In many ways we were very frustrated because we were not going to make changes if we accepted the commission. Ministers from all parties have...

Seanad: Planning and Development Regulations 2005: Motion. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: I move: "That Seanad Éireann approves the following regulations in draft: Planning and Development Regulations 2005, copies of which have been laid in draft form before Seanad Éireann on 16 June 2005."

Seanad: Planning and Development Regulations 2005: Motion. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: I would like to share time with Senator Brady, with the permission of the House.

Seanad: Planning and Development Regulations 2005: Motion. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Roche. Like Senator Terry, I thank him for staying in the House for this debate. I agree with the Senator that the proposal in these regulations that one should have to seek planning permission if one wishes to change the use of a commercial property from a shop to an off-licence is to be welcomed. Senators have raised this matter with the Minister for Justice,...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: I hope the Minister does not mind that he is being brought on a tour of the State. When Galway city became a borough it got some territory from surrounding rural areas. There was no great problem in this regard and the transfer was agreed between the two local authorities involved. However, difficulties have arisen in this regard in other areas. Senator Dooley gave the example of Limerick...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: I wish to give an example as other Members have done. Senator Dooley presented the example of County Clare, which might have been entitled to five seats if it had kept its territory intact. Unfortunately, this did not happen. A similar situation obtains where Ballinasloe Town Council borders County Roscommon. The Minister is aware of the existence of such issues. We will not resolve them...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: I support Senator O'Rourke's comments about the need for a new and better system of compiling the electoral register. Such a system is necessary if we are to ensure people are not omitted from the register. We need to prevent people from registering to vote five times, as in the case mentioned by Senator McHugh. Rate collectors, who are often much-maligned, no longer have a role in this...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Committee and Remaining Stages. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: The tally would be all wrong.

Seanad: Order of Business. (30 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: I support what Senator Brian Hayes has said regarding the jailing of five people from Mayo. As a large corporation, Shell has responsibilities other than its own corporate image. It should engage in talks regarding this project, which is very important to the west of Ireland. I fully support it, having met both sides in the argument. The debate on Sellafield has become more worrying with the...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: This has nothing to do with the Bill. The Senator is not discussing the Bill.

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2005: Second Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for the Bill he has brought before us. I welcome the opportunity to speak on this short but extremely important Bill. I join with the Minister of State in complimenting the Constituency Commission, whose recommendations are now the focus of the Bill. The commission had a difficult task and tried to bring a fair balance to the Bill....

Seanad: Interpretation Bill 2000: Committee Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: With regard to Senator Quinn's comments, it is a matter for each House of the Oireachtas to make its own rules and standing orders. That is the position. I will return to Senator Brian Hayes with precise information on the issue of a revised Statute Book.

Seanad: Interpretation Bill 2000: Committee Stage. (29 Jun 2005)

Michael Kitt: That is taken from the present legislation. An "ordinance map" means a map made under the powers conferred by the Survey (Ireland) Acts 1825 to 1870.