Michael Paschal Kitt (born 17 May 1950) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A former senator, he is currently a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Galway East constituency.^[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, 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.

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 for State with special 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.

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 TD for Dublin South. and of Áine Brady, a TD for Kildare North. His brother-in-law Gerry Brady also served as TD for Kildare in 1982.

[edit] See also

• Families in the Oireachtas

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Michael Kitt's official website
• Michael P. Kitt's page on the Fianna Fáil website

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v • d • e « 13th Seanad «   Members of the 14th Seanad Éireann (1977–1981) » 15th Seanad » Cathaoirleach Séamus Dolan (FF)  • Leader of the Seanad Eoin Ryan, Snr (FF) Administrative Panel Liam Burke (FG) • Micheál Cranitch (FF) • Jack Garrett (FF) • Tras Honan (FF) • Thomas Kilbride (FG) • Michael P. Kitt (FF) • Myles Staunton (FG) Agricultural Panel Pierce Butler (FG) • Paul Connaughton (FG) • John Ellis (FF) • Justin Keating (Lab) • Rory Kiely (FF) • Gerard Lynch (FG) • Joe McCartin (FG) • Charles McDonald (FG) • Patrick McGowan (FF) • Martin O'Toole (FF) • William Ryan (FF) Cultural and Educational Panel Richard Conroy (FF) • Patrick Cooney (FG) • Flor Crowley (FF) • Timothy McAuliffe (Lab) • David Molony (FG) Industrial and Commercial Panel Ruairí Brugha (FF) • Alexis FitzGerald, Snr (FG) • Desmond Governey (FG) • Michael Howard (FG) • Liam Hyland (FF) • Mick Lanigan (FF) • Michael Moynihan (Lab) • Patrick J. Reynolds (FG) • Eoin Ryan, Snr (FF) Labour Panel John Blennerhassett (FG) • Séamus Dolan (FF) • Joseph Dowling (FF) • Des Hanafin (FF) • Jack Harte (Lab) • Anthony Herbert (FF) • Brian Hillery (FF) • Fintan Kennedy (Lab) • Michael Lyons (FG) • Bernard Markey (FG) • Andy O'Brien (FG) National University of Ireland Gemma Hussey (Ind) • Augustine Martin (Ind) • John A. Murphy (Ind) University of Dublin Conor Cruise O'Brien (Ind) • Mary Robinson (Lab) • Trevor West (Ind) Nominated by the Taoiseach Séamus Brennan (FF) • Séamus de Brún (FF) • Eileen Cassidy (FF) • Valerie Goulding (FF) • Mary Harney (FF) • Valentine Jago (FF) • Gordon Lambert (Ind) • Bernard McGlinchey (FF) • Noel William Mulcahy (FF) • T. K. Whitaker (Ind) • Michael Yeats (FF) Elected or nominated later 1977 Michael Patrick Donnelly (FF) • 1979 Catherine McGuinness (Ind) • 1980 Jim Doolan (FF) • James Ruttle (FF) • 1981 P. J. Mara (FF) • Joseph O'Neill (??)} FF: Fianna Fáil • FG: Fine Gael • Lab: Labour Party • Ind: Independent •  ??: Unknown party