Results 11,381-11,400 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Water and Sewerage Schemes. (26 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this issue. In the spirit of the maxim that all politics is local, I am raising a local issue. As spokesperson on the environment for the Fianna Fáil Party in the House, I thank the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, for his presence. I am interested in efforts to have a sewerage scheme in the town of Tuam...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I agree with the point made by Senator Dardis. If an activity is confined to a particular local authority area, one should apply to that authority. In relation to waste management plans, regions have been established already. I live in the area subject to the Connacht waste management plan, to which the EPA has agreed. I accept that regional plans are a good idea but, in relation to activity,...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: It should not be necessary to invoke the Freedom of Information Act. I agree with Senator McCarthy that reasons for decisions should be given by local authorities, An Bord Pleanála and other bodies, including the agency referred to in this Bill. I hope the Minister will accept that proposition.

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Committee Stage. (25 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I agree with Senator McCarthy. The amendment does give more flexibility and would hopefully speed up the processing of many of the issues coming before the courts. The more options available for hearing these cases the better.

Seanad: Cancer Screening Programme: Motion. (19 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I am glad the House is having this debate and that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, was present to discuss the issue. I also welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley. Senator Terry made a very relevant point about screening services being available in Dublin only. It is a subject about which I have spoken when dealing with other issues with regard to the west....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Water and Sewerage Schemes. (19 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this issue and the Minister of State for coming to the House. I raise the matter of the Milltown sewerage scheme in north Galway. Milltown has the honour of being the tidiest village in County Galway in recent years. Funding has been allocated for water schemes in the village and surrounding areas. However, there will be a threat of pollution if a...

Seanad: Rural Development Policy: Statements. (18 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: This is a timely discussion on the work of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and on rural areas and on the people who live there. One of the best schemes the Minister introduced was the CLÁR programme, which focused on areas that had suffered from population decline. He outlined the facts and figures to support his case. CLÁR was able to help areas and other schemes...

Seanad: Order of Business. (6 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I support the calls for the implementation of the Education (Welfare) Act and to have the officers working as soon as possible. When the legislation was passed in the Oireachtas, I understood the officers would be working from July of last year. As Senator Fitzgerald said, it is regrettable that they are working in their offices but not on the ground. When the legislation comes into effect, I...

Seanad: Visit by Estonian Prime Minister. (6 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I am sure Members will join me in extending a sincere welcome to Mr. Siim Kallas, Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia. I hope the Prime Minister's visit will be fruitful and that our two countries will continue to enjoy cordial relations.

Seanad: Iraq Crisis: Statements (Resumed). (6 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I join in the welcome to the Minister of State and thank him and the Minister for Foreign Affairs for their work on this delicate and sensitive issue. I was honoured to have been selected with Deputy Michael Higgins to visit Iraq from 22-28 January. I thank the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs which was unanimous in proposing that we visit the country. Our first objective was to assess the...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister. I strongly support the Bill and what the Minister has said about it on radio and television. He has mentioned the need for strong action, with which I agree totally. He has also commented that legislation alone will not improve the environment, which is true. In my time on the Council of Europe I was a member of the science and technology committee and we spent much...

Seanad: Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed). (5 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I understood counties Mayo and Galway would deal with it when the planning process was complete. If private developers can quickly obtain planning permission and are in a position to operate, will they be able to provide a site for both the county and the region? It will be interesting to see what happens when the planning process is developed.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Feb 2003)

Michael Kitt: I join Senator Tuffy in calling for a debate on the efforts to close down the organic farm in Athenry. Teagasc has many questions to answer on this issue because it is discriminating against Athenry in the same way that the IRFU tried to discriminate against Connacht rugby. I hope we will have the opportunity to discuss that issue and fight for Athenry organic farm, which is the only...

Seanad: Order of Business. (19 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I join in the tributes to you, a Chathaoirligh, and the staff, and particularly to John McCabe who played a great role in the committee system when it was in Kildare House where circumstances were more difficult than they are now. I support Senator O'Toole's comments on students who did not receive their junior certificates. If 906 students did not get certificates in 2001, I wonder how many...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the Social Welfare Bill. I congratulate the Minister and welcome her to the House. The people Senator Bannon meets are very different from those I meet. Most of the people I have met are happy with the budget. They knew it would not be as good as other budgets but they are certainly happy.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: That is not true.

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (18 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: If the Senator allows me to make my contribution he can decide later. It is interesting to note that under successive Ministers for Social and Family Affairs, including the former Minister, Deputy Woods, the introduction of insurance contributions has meant that more pensioners are in receipt of contributory pensions, particularly the self-employed category, which includes farmers. That is a...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Schools Building Projects. (17 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Chair for taking this matter about school buildings in County Galway on the Adjournment. I also thank the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy de Valera, for coming to the House. I am concerned about the 400 building projects on the Department's programme, particularly the 40 in County Galway which are at architectural planning stage. Five of these...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: The Senator should support the Minister.

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: When Senator O'Meara mentioned the issue of social segregation, it reminded me of the court case about which we heard yesterday in which the judge commented that just because people living beside each other might both be living in expensive houses, it does not necessarily mean they will get on. There is always a difficulty in dealing with segregation. Senator O'Meara wanted to remove the word...