Results 11,161-11,180 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Grant Payments. (27 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I have been approached by a number of individuals who are happy with the final deal on top-up grants and incentives allowing them to sell off bog plots and turbary rights. The deal amounts to €3,500 for the first acre and €3,000 for each subsequent acre. The only difficulty to arise is that others who had bogs designated in 1998 received £1,000. I understand they will now receive an...

Seanad: Foreign Conflicts: Motion. (27 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senator Ormonde for sharing her time and Senator Henry for tabling this motion. I welcome the Minister who, as with his previous Ministries, has done a good job in a short period. I visited Baghdad in January 2003, a number of months before the war began, with an Oireachtas delegation. One of the most vivid memories I have of that trip is that many of our visits to hospitals, schools...

Seanad: Order of Business. (27 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I support Senator Ó Murchú regarding the singer Christy Moore. At a time when there are more and more queries about passports and identity cards when travelling between Ireland and Great Britain, and identity is now such a big issue, it is unbelievable that such questions are asked. Regarding the western rail corridor, I understand that part of the line between Claremorris and Athenry was...

Seanad: School Staffing. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senator Ulick Burke for sharing his time and I thank the Minister of State. I support what Senator Burke has said about additional support staff. This school is housed in two buildings with a busy main road between and this is very difficult for both staff and students alike. It is important that the school be awarded disadvantaged status which would mean a more favourable...

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I join others in welcoming the Minister, Deputy Roche, to the Seanad and thank him for addressing us on this important debate which I am glad is taking place today. I was particularly interested in what he said about emigrants. Coming from County Galway I have a great interest in this issue, as have people from the west in general. The Minister's comments are evidence of the Government's...

Seanad: Planning and Related Issues: Statements. (20 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I wish to share my time with Senator MacSharry.

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed). (20 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I join with calls to support the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs in helping to secure the release of Margaret Hassan. I know from speaking to people who work for Care International that she is a courageous and compassionate person. We met the organisation last year during an Oireachtas visit to Iraq. I hope that our comments and the work of the Taoiseach and the Minister for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I support my colleagues in the call for a debate on planning. Senator O'Toole referred to a shortage of medical personnel, speech therapists, physiotherapists and nurses. Out of hours GP services in rural areas appear to have many teething problems. There is certainly room for improvement when people in County Galway ring the service and are told that doctors in counties Roscommon and Mayo...

Seanad: Order of Business. (14 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: It shows the commitment of the former Minister to that hospital. I hope the present Minister, who is a native of Ballinasloe, will continue to support it.

Seanad: Schools Amalgamation. (13 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue. I welcome the Minister to the Seanad and congratulate her on her promotion. I would like to share my time with Senator Ulick Burke. I want to raise the issue of the amalgamation of St. Patrick's College and St. Jarlath's College in Tuam, the latter school being my own alma mater. The boards of management of both schools have been...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I wish to share my time with Senator Scanlan.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: Senator McHugh referred to people hanging out. In Galway County Council, Sinn Féin is keeping Fine Gael and a rainbow of other parties in the chair.

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I quoted Shakespeare to them. He said misery makes for strange bedfellows. I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for clarifying a few issues that have caused much confusion. I wish to make the case for the No Name Club organisation which needs more support than merely saying it is doing great work. By "support" I mean assistance with the organisation of discos and other functions,...

Seanad: Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (13 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: He gave a very good account of what it was like for a GP in a small town where a disco was held and that is something that will always remain with me. The Minister made a very good point regarding the woman from Connemara who spoke about her daughter's death which was brought about because she was served alcohol. That is the reality of what is happening. We have to examine the overall...

Seanad: Order of Business. (13 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I join in the calls for debates on Northern Ireland and overseas development aid. There was an all-party agreement on a motion supporting Ireland achieving 0.7% of GNP in overseas development aid by 2007. Some months ago, the sub-committee on development co-operation, of which I am Chairman, passed a similar motion. I hope that this all-party support will encourage the Minister of State to...

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Seanad: Land Bill 2004: Second Stage. (7 Oct 2004)

Michael Kitt: I too welcome the new Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, and wish her well in her new position. I also compliment her new Ministers of State, Deputies Browne and Brendan Smith. It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to the former Minister, Deputy Walsh, former Minister of State, Deputy Aylward, who has gone to Europe, and Minister of State, Deputy Treacy. I have always...

Seanad: State Airports Bill 2004: Committee Stage (Resumed). (14 Jul 2004)

Michael Kitt: Amendments Nos. 30, 31 and 32 are related and may be taken together.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Michael Kitt: I knew that Senator Bannon would mention discrimination with regard to County Longford. I sympathise with his point about students and it is an issue I have raised in this House on a number of occasions. The Minister of State may differ from me in this but that is no harm. One cannot blame the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government or the Department of Education of Science...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies Bill 2003: Report and Final Stages. (8 Jul 2004)

Michael Kitt: There are also good referees in Longford.