Tom Kitt

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Tom Kitt (Irish: Tomás Ó Ceit; born 11 July 1952), is a senior Irish Fianna Fáil politician and the current Government Chief Whip. He has been a TD for Dublin South since 1987.

Tom Kitt was born in Galway and educated at St. Jarlath's College, Tuam and St. Patrick's Teacher Training College, Dublin. Kitt worked as a teacher before becoming involved in local politics as a member of Dublin City Council in 1979. He was elected to Dáil Éireann in the 1987 general election as a Fianna Fáil TD. He has been elected at all five elections since then. In 1992 Kitt was appointed Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility for Arts, Culture & Women's Affairs. The following year in 1993 he became Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Under Bertie Ahern he became Fianna Fáil spokesman on Labour Affairs in 1995. In 1997 Fianna Fáil returned to power and Kitt became Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment. In 2002 he was appointed to the Department of Foreign Affairs as Minister of State with responsibility for Overseas Development and Human Rights. Following the Cabinet reshuffle in 2004 Kitt became Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Defence, effectively Government Chief Whip.

As well as being involved in politics, Kitt has ran several marathons. He completed the Dublin city marathon on five occasions as well as the Berlin Marathon (1991), the Belfast Marathon (1996) and the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996. Tom Kitt comes from a family with a strong political background. He is a son of Michael F. Kitt, TD for various Galway constituencies (1948–1951 & 1957–1975), and a brother of Senator Michael P. Kitt. His sister, Áine Brady, was unsuccessful in her attempt to get elected to the Dáil in the Kildare North by-election in 2005, and is married to Gerard Brady, a former TD. Tom Kitt's son David is a musician.

[edit] Political career

Preceded by Niall Andrews	Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for Dublin South 1987–	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Michael P. Kitt	Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach 1992–1994	Succeeded by Gay Mitchell
Preceded by Seán Calleary	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Overseas Development Aid) 1993–1994	Succeeded by Gay Mitchell
Preceded by Eithne FitzGerald	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Labour Affairs) 1997–2002	Succeeded by Frank Fahey
Preceded by Liz O'Donnell	Minister of State (with special responsibility for Overseas Development and Human Rights) 2002–2004	Succeeded by Conor Lenihan
Preceded by Mary Hanafin	Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach 2004-	Succeeded by Incumbent
Preceded by Mary Hanafin	Minister of State at the Department of Defence 2004-	Succeeded by Incumbent