Results 11,261-11,280 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Committee and Remaining Stages. (4 Mar 2004)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Minister of State for bringing this Bill to the House and for dealing with the issues raised by Senators. Although the Bill relates to motor taxation rates and trade plate licences we had a wide ranging debate on roads, signage, road safety and public transport. I thank the Minister of State for responding to the issues raised. I am glad the Bill has been passed and I look forward...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and thank him for his explanation of the Bill. The primary purpose of the Bill is to give a legislative basis to the increases in motor tax rates and trade plate licences set out in a financial resolution passed by the Dáil in November 2003. Provision has been made for an increase of 5% across the board. I was pleased to hear the Minister of State...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Michael Kitt: That shows the beady eyes of the Minister and Minister of State and that they are keeping a close watch on this money.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Michael Kitt: I welcome what the Minister of State said about the new rates of motor tax, the schedule for taxation classes and the motor tax rates for vintage vehicles. The new rates took effect from 1 January 2004. Senator Bannon raised the relevant issue of public transport. I take the opportunity to raise the issue of the rail network. Fr. Micheál MacGréil, former Deputy and Senator, Martin O'Toole,...

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Michael Kitt: An application will also be made by the Government.

Seanad: Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (3 Mar 2004)

Michael Kitt: The Bill provides for smaller tax increases of €7 for cars under 1000cc while the increase is €14 for larger cars of 1300cc to 1400cc — these are not huge sums. Our primary concern must be safety. Despite horrific recent crashes, the Minister for Transport is making much progress on penalty points. Figures suggest that fatalities on our roads were approximately 600 per year in the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (2 Mar 2004)

Michael Kitt: I wish to raise again an issue I raised last year, namely the use of discos for the excellent No Name Club, which arranges discos where alcohol is not served. Problems remain in this area and I hope a discussion on it, as well as on other issues related to the licensing laws, can be arranged as soon as possible. We should seek a situation in which such discos could be organised without any...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts: Motion. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern. In many ways the legislation is testament to the successful career of the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuív, since he was Minister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht affairs. At that time he introduced many measures that helped people in the Gaeltacht. I often looked across with envy from my base in east Galway at some of the benefits of...

Seanad: Dormant Accounts: Motion. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: Other problems exist in the Gaeltacht in regard to planning. Not everybody in these areas is involved in tourism. Although I do not live in a Gaeltacht area, I welcome the benefits that pertain there. I am interested in these areas and see the benefit of certain schemes. One has to be clear on the supports required in areas of disadvantage and try to get funds to that area. I look forward to...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: When we discussed electronic voting in the House some weeks ago, I mentioned in particular Senator Finucane's support for it, and I am sorry that he has changed his mind. I said at the time I believed that Senator Finucane would have been in the Dáil if there had been electronic voting in the 2002 election. People talk about a lack of security with electronic voting. What security do we have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (25 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: The current system is inadequate vis-À-vis the electronic voting that will be introduced in June.

Seanad: Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2004: Second Stage. (24 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: I thank Senator Dooley for sharing his time with me. I welcome the Minister of State. All Members will agree that the reforms allowing public servants the option to remain at work after 65 years of age are welcome. This is reflected in the teaching profession where many retired teachers continue on as substitute teachers. It also highlights the lack of qualified teachers, but that is for...

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: It will be in the Pensions Bill.

Seanad: Order of Business. (24 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: I draw the Leader's attention to an advertisement in newspapers in recent weeks advising people not to mail items to Tuam or Drogheda because of the postal dispute in those towns. It is appalling that such an advertisement should be placed in newspapers. In the case of Tuam, there is a question of inadequate accommodation and now there is a huge backlog of mail. Thousands of items have to be...

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: Next Wednesday at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2003: Second Stage. (12 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, to the House. I also welcome the Bill. It is fitting that the Minister of State is introducing the Bill here as he has served in the European Parliament, having been directly elected twice to that body for the constituency of Connacht-Ulster. When the former Taoiseach, Deputy John Bruton, appeared before the House recently, I asked him how he...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: That is true.

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gallagher, to the House. I support electronic voting and counting. As the Minister of State said, this system has been in operation in The Netherlands and in many cities in Germany over the past ten years where it has been shown to be successful in elections. However, when we talk about...

Seanad: Electronic Voting: Statements. (11 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: The emphasis will be on showing how simple it will be to vote in the new way and those of us who were in the Mansion House have seen that. The Minister of State has told us there will be countrywide roadshows or a visit to the provinces. It is very clear that there are benefits from the new system. It is easier to use, very efficient, improves electoral accuracy and administration and, most...

Seanad: Order of Business. (5 Feb 2004)

Michael Kitt: I accept your ruling that I cannot raise the issue of Kiltormer post office. There is a commitment to review the automated office in Kiltormer in six months' time and I hope that my raising the issue yesterday played some part in that. I agree with Senator Ulick Burke on the issue of the EPA report. I raised in the House last week the amount of voluntary commitment that goes into these...