Michael P. Kitt

Michael P. Kitt
Leas-Cheann Comhairle
In office
31 March 2011  3 February 2016
Preceded by Brendan Howlin
Teachta Dála
In office
May 2007  February 2016
In office
June 1981  May 2002
Constituency Galway East
In office
March 1975  June 1977
Constituency Galway North–East
Senator
In office
September 2002  May 2007
Constituency Nominated by the Taoiseach
In office
October 1977  June 1981
Constituency Administrative Panel
Personal details
Born (1950-05-17) 17 May 1950
Tuam, County Galway
Nationality Irish
Political party Fianna Fáil
Alma mater St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin,
University College Galway,
University College Dublin

Michael Paschal Kitt (born 17 May 1950) is a retired an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency,[1] and was the Leas-Cheann Comhairle (Deputy Chairman) of Dáil Éireann.[2] during the 31st Dáil

Born in Tuam, County Galway, Kitt was educated St. Jarlath's College, Tuam; St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin; University College Dublin and University College Galway. He qualified as a teacher before becoming involved in politics.

In 1975, following the death of his father, Michael Kitt, Snr, he was elected to succeed his father on Galway County Council. In the Galway North–East by-election on 4 March he was elected to the 20th Dáil, being returned on the first count with a 7% majority over the Fine Gael candidate Paul Connaughton, Snr.

Kitt lost his Dáil seat at the 1977 general election but was subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann by the Administrative Panel, serving until 1981 as a member of the 14th Seanad. He was re-elected to the Dáil at the 1981 general election for the new Galway East and retained his seat until 2002.[3]

During this period he served as a Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach for three months from November 1991 to February 1992. He lost his Dáil seat at the 2002 general election but was subsequently nominated by the Taoiseach to serve as a member of the 22nd Seanad. He was re-elected to the Dáil at the 2007 general election. In June 2007, he was appointed as Minister of State for Overseas Development. In May 2008, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (with special responsibility for Local Services). He served in this position until April 2009 when he was dropped in a reshuffle.

Michael Kitt comes from a family with a strong political background. He is a son of Michael Kitt, Snr, who was a TD for various Galway constituencies (1948–1951 and 1957–1975), and a brother of Tom Kitt, a former TD for Dublin South, and of Áine Brady, a former TD for Kildare North. His brother-in-law Gerry Brady also served as TD for Kildare in 1982.

On 31 March 2011, he was appointed as the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny.[2]

He was the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Gaeltacht Affairs.

He did not contest the 2016 general election.[4]

See also

References

  1. "Mr. Michael P. Kitt". Oireachtas Members Database. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  2. 1 2 McGee, Harry (1 April 2011). "FF TD selected by Taoiseach to serve as Leas-Cheann Comhairle". The Irish Times.
  3. "Michael Kitt". ElectionsIreland.org. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  4. "Leas-Cheann Comhairle to stand down at election". RTE News. 4 September 2015.
Oireachtas
Preceded by
Michael F. Kitt
Thomas Hussey
John Donnellan
Teachta Dála for Galway North–East
1975–1977
With: Thomas Hussey 1975–77
John Donnellan 1975–77
Constituency abolished
Preceded by
Thomas Hussey
Johnny Callanan
John Donnellan
Teachta Dála for Galway East
1981–2002
With: Paul Connaughton, Snr 1981–2002
Johnny Callanan 1981–82
Noel Treacy 1982–2002
Ulick Burke 1997–2002
Succeeded by
Paul Connaughton, Snr
Joe Callanan
Noel Treacy
Paddy McHugh
Preceded by
Paul Connaughton, Snr
Joe Callanan
Noel Treacy
Paddy McHugh
Teachta Dála for Galway East
2007–2016
With: Paul Connaughton, Snr 2007–11
Noel Treacy 2007–11
Ulick Burke 2007–11
Paul Connaughton, Jnr 2011–16
Colm Keaveney 2011–16
Ciarán Cannon 2011–16
Succeeded by
Ciarán Cannon
Seán Canney
Anne Rabbitte
Political offices
Preceded by
Conor Lenihan
Minister of State for Overseas Development
2007–08
Succeeded by
Peter Power
New office Minister of State for Local Services
2008–09
Succeeded by
Michael Finneran
Preceded by
Brendan Howlin
Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
2011–16
Succeeded by
None yet as of 20 March 2016
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