Michael P. Kitt

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Michael (also Mícheál) Kitt (born 17 May 1950) is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. A former Senator, he is a member of the Dáil for the Galway East constituency.

Born in Tuam, County Galway in May 1950, Kitt was educated at St. Jarlath's Roman Catholic College, Tuam; St. Patrick's Teacher Training College, Drumcondra, 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 his father's seat in 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 in 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 in the 1981 general election for the new Galway East and retained his seat until 2002. During this period he served as a Minister of State at the Department of an Taoiseach for three months from November 1991 to February 1992. He lost his Dáil seat in 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 in 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).

Michael Kitt comes from a family with a strong political background. He is a son of Michael Kitt, Snr, 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, who was also elected to the Dáil in 2007. His brother in law Gerry Brady also served as T.D for Kildare in 1982.

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Political offices
Preceded by
Conor Lenihan
Minister of State (with special responsibility for Overseas Development)
2007–2008
Succeeded by
Peter Power
Preceded by
Newly created office
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
(with special responsibility for Local Services)

2008–present
Incumbent