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Michael P. Kitt

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Michael P. Kitt
Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
In office
31 March 2011 – 3 February 2016
Ceann ComhairleSeán Barrett
Preceded byBrendan Howlin
Succeeded byPat "the Cope" Gallagher
Minister of State
2008–2009Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2007–2008Foreign Affairs
1991–1992Taoiseach
Teachta Dála
In office
May 2007 – February 2016
In office
June 1981 – May 2002
ConstituencyGalway East
In office
March 1975 – June 1977
ConstituencyGalway North-East
Senator
In office
12 September 2002 – 24 May 2007
ConstituencyNominated by the Taoiseach
In office
27 October 1977 – 11 June 1981
ConstituencyAdministrative Panel
Personal details
Born (1950-05-17) 17 May 1950 (age 74)
Tuam, County Galway, Ireland
Political partyFianna Fáil
Parent
Relatives
EducationSt Jarlath's College
Alma mater

Michael Paschal Kitt (born 17 May 1950) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2011 to 2016, a Minister of State from 1991 to 1992, and from 2007 to 2009. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency from 1975 to 1977, 1981 to 2002, and 2007 to 2016. He was a Senator from 2002 to 2007, after being nominated by the Taoiseach and from 1977 to 1981 for the Administrative Panel.[1]

Early life

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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.[citation needed]

Politics

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In 1975, following the death of his father, Michael F. Kitt, 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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[3] 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 by Bertie Ahern as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Overseas Development.[4] In May 2008, when Brian Cowen succeeded as Taoiseach, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with special responsibility for Local Services.[5][6] He served in this position until April 2009 when he was dropped when Cowen reduced the number of junior ministers from 20 to 15.[7]

On 31 March 2011, he was elected as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann, serving for the 31st Dáil.[8][9][10]

He did not contest the 2016 general election and retired from politics.[11]

Family

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Michael Kitt comes from a political family. He is a son of Michael F. Kitt, who was a TD for various Galway constituencies (1948–1951 and 1957–1975), and a brother of Tom Kitt, a TD for Dublin South from 1987 to 2011, and of Áine Brady, a TD for Kildare North from 2007 to 2011. His brother-in-law Gerry Brady also served as TD for Kildare in 1982.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Michael P. Kitt". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b c "Michael Kitt". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  3. ^ "Ministers of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil)". Houses of the Oireachtas. 15 November 1991. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2007 (52): 692–694. 29 June 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2008 (43): 562–563. 16 May 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  6. ^ Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 226 of 2008). Signed on 24 June 2008. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 12 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Two new junior ministers revealed". RTÉ News. 22 April 2009. Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
  8. ^ McGee, Harry (1 April 2011). "FF TD selected by Taoiseach to serve as Leas-Cheann Comhairle". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 12 November 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Election of Leas-Cheann Comhairle – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Vol. 729 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 31 March 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Declaration by Leas-Cheann Comhairle – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Vol. 729 No. 1". Houses of the Oireachtas. 31 March 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Leas-Cheann Comhairle to stand down at election". RTÉ News. 4 September 2015. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach
1991–1992
With: Dermot Ahern
Brendan Daly 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs
2007–2008
With: Dick Roche 		Succeeded by
Dick Roche
Peter Power
Preceded by Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
2008–2009
With: Michael Finneran
Máire Hoctor 		Succeeded by
Áine Brady
Michael Finneran
Preceded by Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann
2011–2016 		Succeeded by
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