Tom Kitt (politician)

Tom Kitt
Tom Kitt
	Kitt in 2012
Minister of State
2004–2008	Government Chief Whip
2004–2008	Defence
2002–2004	Foreign Affairs
1997–2002	Enterprise, Trade and Employment
1993–1994	Foreign Affairs
1992–1994	Taoiseach
Teachta Dála
	In office; February 1987 – February 2011
Constituency	Dublin South
Personal details
Born	11 July 1952 (age 72); Galway, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Children	4, including David
Parent	Michael F. Kitt (father);
Relatives	Áine Brady (sister); Michael P. Kitt (brother); Gerry Brady (brother-in-law);
Education	St Jarlath's College
Alma mater	St Patrick's College, Dublin

Tom Kitt (born 11 July 1952) is an Irish former Fianna Fáil politician. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dublin South constituency from 1987 to 2011, and a Minister of State from 1992 to 1994 and from 1997 to 2008.^[1]

Early and private life

Tom Kitt was born in Galway and educated at St Jarlath's College, Tuam and St Patrick's College of Education, Dublin. Kitt worked as a primary school teacher before becoming involved in local politics.

Kitt has run several marathons. He completed the Dublin Marathon on five occasions as well as the Berlin Marathon (1991), the Belfast Marathon (1996), the Buckfast marathon (2010) and the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996.^{[citation needed]}

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 Michael P. Kitt, a former TD for Galway East. His sister, Áine Brady is a former TD for Kildare North, and his brother-in-law Gerry Brady is a former TD for Kildare. Tom Kitt's sons David, Thomas and Robbie are musicians.

Political career

In 1979, he was elected to Dublin County Council for the local electoral area of Whitechurch, and in 1985 for Dundrum.^[2] He was elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1987 general election as a Fianna Fáil TD. He was re-elected at all subsequent general elections until his retirement in 2011.^[3]

In February 1992, when Albert Reynolds succeeded as Taoiseach, Kitt was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility for arts and culture, women's affairs and European affairs.^[4] In January 1993, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility for European Affairs and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs and Overseas Development Assistance.^[5] He served until Fianna Fáil lost office in December 1994.

Under Bertie Ahern he became Fianna Fáil spokesman on Labour Affairs in 1995. After the 1997 general election, Fianna Fáil returned to office and Kitt was appointed by the government as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for labour affairs, consumer rights and international trade.^[6]^[7] After the 2002 general election, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Overseas Development and Human Rights.^[8] In a September 2004 reshuffle, Kitt was appointed as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and Minister of State at the Department of Defence.^[9]^[10] He was reappointed after the 2007 general election.^[11]^[12]

In May 2008, when Brian Cowen became Taoiseach, he was not re-appointed as government chief whip. He declined the offer of another junior ministry, and announced his intention to retire from the Dáil at the following general election, which would take place in February 2011.^[13]

References

^ "Tom Kitt". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
^ "Tom Kitt". Irish Elections. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
^ "Tom Kitt". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
^ "Members of Government and Ministers of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Vol. 415 No. 7". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 February 1992. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 425 No. 7". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 February 1993. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
^ "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Vol. 480 No. 2". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 July 1997. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
^ Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 330 of 1997). Signed on 28 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.; Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (Amendment) Order 2000 (S.I. No. 391 of 2000). Signed on 28 November 2000. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
^ "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2002 (52): 735–736. 12 October 2004. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
^ "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2004 (82): 1059–1060. 12 October 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
^ Statistics (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 664 of 2004). Signed on 19 October 2004. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
^ "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2007 (52): 692. 29 June 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
^ Statistics (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 447 of 2007). Signed on 11 July 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.
^ "FF's Kitt to step down at next election". RTÉ News. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2022.

Political offices
Preceded by Dermot Ahern Michael P. Kitt	Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach 1992–1994 With: Noel Dempsey Noel Treacy (1993–1994)	Succeeded by Seán Barrett Gay Mitchell Donal Carey Avril Doyle
Preceded by Brendan Daly	Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs 1993–1994	Succeeded by Joan Burton Gay Mitchell
Preceded by Eithne FitzGerald Pat Rabbitte as Ministers of State at the Department of Enterprise and Employment	Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 1997–2002 With: Michael Smith (July–Oct. 1997) Noel Treacy (Oct. 1997–2002)	Succeeded by Michael Ahern Frank Fahey
Preceded by Liz O'Donnell	Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs 2002–2004 With: Dick Roche	Succeeded by Noel Treacy Conor Lenihan
Preceded by Mary Hanafin	Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Government Chief Whip) 2004–2008	Succeeded by Pat Carey
Preceded by Mary Hanafin	Minister of State at the Department of Defence 2004–2008	Succeeded by Pat Carey

[oireachtas_db-1] "Tom Kitt". Oireachtas Members Database. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2009.

[irelec-2] "Tom Kitt". Irish Elections. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

[elecs_irl-3] "Tom Kitt". ElectionsIreland.org. Archived from the original on 3 February 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.

[4] "Members of Government and Ministers of State: Announcement by Taoiseach – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Vol. 415 No. 7". Houses of the Oireachtas. 13 February 1992. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

[5] "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) – Vol. 425 No. 7". Houses of the Oireachtas. 10 February 1993. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

[gapp-6] "Appointment of Members of Government and Ministers of State – Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) – Vol. 480 No. 2". Houses of the Oireachtas. 9 July 1997. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2022.

[7] Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 330 of 1997). Signed on 28 July 1997. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.; Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (Amendment) Order 2000 (S.I. No. 391 of 2000). Signed on 28 November 2000. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.

[8] "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2002 (52): 735–736. 12 October 2004. Retrieved 21 October 2022.

[9] "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2004 (82): 1059–1060. 12 October 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2022.

[10] Statistics (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 664 of 2004). Signed on 19 October 2004. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.

[11] "Appointment of Ministers of State" (PDF). Iris Oifigiúil. 2007 (52): 692. 29 June 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.

[12] Statistics (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 447 of 2007). Signed on 11 July 2007. Statutory Instrument of the Government of Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book.

[II_20080428-13] "FF's Kitt to step down at next election". RTÉ News. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2022.

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v t e Government Chief Whip of Ireland
Parliamentary Secretary to the President (1922–1937)	Daniel McCarthy James Dolan Eamonn Duggan Gerald Boland Patrick Little
Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach (1937–1977)	Patrick Little Patrick Smith Eamon Kissane Liam Cosgrave Donnchadh Ó Briain Denis J. O'Sullivan Joseph Brennan Michael Carty Desmond O'Malley David Andrews John M. Kelly Patrick Lalor
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (1978–present)	Patrick Lalor Michael Woods Seán Moore Gerry L'Estrange Fergus O'Brien Bertie Ahern Seán Barrett Vincent Brady Dermot Ahern Noel Dempsey Jim Higgins Séamus Brennan Mary Hanafin Tom Kitt Pat Carey John Curran Paul Kehoe Regina Doherty Joe McHugh Seán Kyne Dara Calleary Jack Chambers Hildegarde Naughton

Early and private life

Political career

See also

References