Results 11,401-11,420 of 11,433 for speaker:Michael Kitt

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

Michael Kitt: The Minister referred to section 96 of the Principal Act in relation to the two year withering rule. He said that normal rules would apply in relation to the duration of planning permissions. I recall a time when a planning permission had a duration of seven years which was then reduced to six years and later to five. What were the circumstances of the introduction of the two year planning...

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

Michael Kitt: We will be discussing the Appropriation Bill tomorrow.

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

Michael Kitt: I join the Minister and other Senators in welcoming the work of the voluntary housing sector. I spoke about this matter yesterday on Second Stage and mentioned RESPOND and Clúid in County Galway and other agencies which have done excellent work in conjunction with the local authorities. I hope local authorities will look at the issue of returning emigrants. I am sure the Minister is aware...

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

Michael Kitt: Now.

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

Michael Kitt: As spokesperson for the environment, I also thank the Minister. This is a good Bill and I am glad he has listened to our contributions. Like him, I hope it will lead to an increase in the supply of houses, an objective on which all of us are agreed.

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, to the House and wish her well in the Department of Education and Science. I compliment her on the work she is doing in the area of adult education. In the last Dáil I was chairman of the committee on education and one of the issues we addressed by way of report was literacy levels. We sought funding for adult education and the situation...

Seanad: Primary Education: Motion. (11 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: When I was teaching, there were no remedial or resource teachers or classroom assistants and the school psychological service had not been established. These issues were addressed during the years and 2,900 additional teachers, for example, have been appointed since 1997 at an annual cost of €116 million. The Government has done well, but I take Senator Browne's point that many of those...

Seanad: Order of Business. (10 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I join Senator Brady in welcoming the reduction in the number of road deaths so far this year and the fact there were no road fatalities last weekend. I congratulate the Minister for Transport on the introduction of the penalty points system which, with the road safety advertising campaign and the clampdown on drink-driving, has been effective. I ask the Leader to send a message from the...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I welcome this legislation. The push for its introduction came from the local authorities, whose members have observed the problem in the supply of housing. The Minister said that the Bill is primarily about housing supply and promoting social integration. I welcome the fact that it not only deals with amending Part V of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, but that it also provides for...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (10 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: An interesting issue that surfaced in Galway – the second largest county in Ireland – was that applicants did not have a contract with their builders but local authorities did have them. That was important and the Minister actively worked on that. The Minister might clarify certain conditions applying to the provision of affordable housing. Purchasers were told initially that if they were...

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: Like Senator Norris, I think this is a very good budget.

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the motion proposed by Senator Minihan. The Minister in his address to the Dáil explained the circumstances surrounding this budget. He mentioned that the economic situation was not as favourable as in other years and used the word "moderate" to describe the changes he had made. I welcome his address and I am glad he put emphasis on the roads issue, one of the most important facing...

Seanad: Budget Statement: Motion. (4 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I do not know if wine is as humble as the pint, but the Minister has left it as it is. Another welcome announcement concerns improvements with regard to the transfer of land to young farmers. It is a big issue, on which I know you, a Chathaoirligh, have views. The Minister also dealt with the closing of loopholes and said urban renewal schemes would end in 2004. There have been very good...

Seanad: Order of Business. (3 Dec 2002)

Michael Kitt: I support the call for a debate on the abuse of alcohol which should not be confined to opening hours and closing times. It is a far bigger issue, and includes the question of advertising. The drinks industry has hijacked many of our sports events, including the club championships with which the Cathaoirleach will be familiar. There have been moves by successive Governments to tackle the...

Seanad: Order of Business. (28 Nov 2002)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the call for a debate on the national spatial strategy. There is, by and large, good news for what is known as the BMW region in the strategy. However, I find it hard to understand why, when the Government is talking about improved services and improved infrastructure in rural Ireland, Iarnród Éireann is at the same time dismantling part of the railway line at Athenry and...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (27 Nov 2002)

Michael Kitt: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002, and I welcome the Minister to the House. It is not long since he was last here to discuss issues relating to tourism. On that occasion we referred to this new tourism development authority. I welcome the fact that the functions of Bord Fáilte and CERT will be transferred to the new...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority Bill, 2002: Second Stage. (27 Nov 2002)

Michael Kitt: I very much welcome the competition in respect of airlines and visitors coming to this country. Obviously, I compliment Ryanair on the work it is doing, as well as Aer Lingus, our national carrier. There have been many complaints about the congestion at Dublin Airport. I welcome the fact that the Minister for Transport has talked about a second terminal, for which many have looked because of...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Michael Kitt: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following: "recognises the Government's decision in regard to the first-time buyer's new house grant as one of the measures necessary in order to ensure a sustainable match between Government resources and expenditure and supports the continued action and commitment by the Government to focus housing...

Seanad: Housing Grants: Motion. (20 Nov 2002)

Michael Kitt: The focus of housing expenditure is, therefore, to respond to the needs of these groups with special housing needs through a range of targeted initiatives. The provision was €38 million for this year. In regard to the grant scheme the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, stated: Grants have been a contributing factor in pushing up both house and land prices. It...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters. - Rail Network. (20 Nov 2002)

Michael Kitt: I thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this issue and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, to the House. I am a member of the Western Inter-County Railway Committee which has been campaigning since 1979 to restore the railway from Sligo to Limerick and on to Rosslare as an important transport infrastructure for passengers and freight servicing the west. Such a viable...