Results 161-180 of 1,415 for speaker:Tom Kitt

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 5, inclusive, together. As the census is fundamental to planning the future of the country, it is extremely important it is conducted in a professional manner. The CSO employed a field force of close to 5,000 persons, of whom 4,400 were enumerators, to undertake a comprehensive field operation over nine weeks in April and May 2006. Individual and...

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: I stand over the CSO's figures. Just looking at the detail and amount of preparation for the census, the CSO's staff are to be commended. They delivered questionnaires to 1.5 million dwellings. As Deputies know, there were 400 field supervisors and 4,400 enumerators. The CSO, following consultation with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, pursued a number of cases in which households...

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: I have not managed to speak to the Minister of State as we are all very busy, but obviously after this debate we will be having a discussion. To be fair to the Minister of State, Deputy Lenihan, there is the issue of migrant flows, as I mentioned in my own contribution, of which we are all conscious.

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: A person can get the impression from the migrant flows that there are more Polish people, for example, in the country than there are really. I have given the factual position. The Minister of State in question, as I understand from his article, was speaking outside the Dáil about his contacts with various organisations representing immigrant bodies. In the case of gated communities and...

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: We all have that problem in our political lives. Maybe we could learn from the census staff with regard to access to gated communities.

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: I made it clear at the outset that I totally stand by the CSO figures. I made the case with regard to——

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: I am just suggesting that——

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: The Minister of State, Deputy Lenihan, spoke based on his contacts with immigrant groups. As I mentioned, one possible explanation for what he suggested — he was not speaking in the House——

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: He was not speaking with the knowledge of the figures that I have. I suggested that his opinion was possibly based on migrant flows. I also made the point that figures released on PPS numbers showed that just under half of the 447,200 non-Irish nationals aged 15 or over who were allocated a PPS number between 2002 and 2005 had employment in the State in 2006. There is obviously an issue...

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: My colleague said he believed that last year's census gave a serious underestimation of certain figures. He is entitled to a view if he is speaking outside the House. I am also entitled to give——

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: Deputy Naughten is being very hard on the Minister of State. He has a view about this.

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: I am bringing clarity to it. He is a good colleague of mine and he is entitled to express his views.

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: I will give a very brief answer regarding the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Conor Lenihan.

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: I am reminded of Salvador Dali, who said: "I will be so brief I have already finished."

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: The Minister of State, Deputy Lenihan, does not wear a hat. I know that for certain.

Census of Population. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: The best way to deal with the undocumented is through our embassies abroad. I have personal experience of it and it is a valid point in regard to the numbers, the contacts and the support network. I will raise the matter with the CSO on the Deputy's behalf.

Legislative Programme. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: The Government legislation committee which I chair is an ad hoc body that has operated since 1985. It assists me in a practical way in compiling accurate information about the current status of legislation in preparation so that I can report to Government through the Taoiseach. It enables me to plan each Dáil session based on reports and information from the Office of the Parliamentary...

Legislative Programme. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: The Opposition has responsibilities regarding the processing of legislation and the speedy passage of legislation through the Dáil. From time to time the Opposition wants to give additional time to certain Bills, for very good reasons in most cases. The Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill is a good example. The Labour Party sought additional time to debate it and we granted it. As...

Legislative Programme. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: With regard to the number of Bills passed by the last Dáil and the use of the guillotine, we used the guillotine where necessary. Invariably it happened towards the end of a session. I accept that we should try to avoid the use of the guillotine as far as possible and I have endeavoured to do that. We have listened carefully to Deputy Stagg, Deputy Paul Kehoe and Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh...

Legislative Programme. (27 Feb 2008)

Tom Kitt: We give notice on the basis that it is important for the Opposition spokespersons.