Michael P. Kitt

Michael Paschal Kitt (born 17 May 1950) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann from 2011 to 2016, Minister of State for Local Services from 2008 to 2011, Minister of State for Overseas Development from 2007 to 2008 and Chief of staff at the Department of the Taoiseach from 1991–92. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency from 1975–77, 1981–2002, and 2007–16. He was a Senator from 2002 to 2007, after being Nominated by the Taoiseach and from 1977 to 1981 for the Administrative Panel.[1]

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, also named Michael 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.

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. 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 at the Department of Foreign Affairs (with responsibility 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.[3]

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.[4]

He did not contest the 2016 general election and retired from politics.[5]