Results 4,961-4,980 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Once the person can prove she was born in Ireland, she is entitled to the bounty.

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: No, once she can prove she was born on the island of Ireland.

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The scheme is to deal with those living abroad; the current system still applies to anyone living here. Applicants must verify their age, their place of birth, their citizenship and their identity. We have been missing out on those living abroad as the scheme deals with those living in the country. There is not a problem regarding the people living here. The scheme is based on Irish citizens...

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On Deputy Ó Caoláin's point, up to now the existing position before I made any changes was that the bounty was payable only to centenarians living in the State, regardless of their nationality, and that arrangement will continue. If a person lives in the State and if he or she is 100 years of age, regardless of where he or she resides that person will receive the bounty. Is that clear? That...

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I am simply outlining the existing system and the new system. Let us not try to complicate something that is clear.

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I will respond to Deputy Rabbitte's point. I have to make a distinction between gifts and services. The EU is not involved in the bounty because it is a gift whereas services are totally covered by EU law. Approximately 40,000 Irish pensioners are getting Irish pensions abroad. We have been trying to make those people eligible to get their services. That is the work we are endeavouring to do,...

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy should not bet on it. We are not just talking about Dutch people, we are talking about everybody.

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Under EU law, we cannot distinguish between people of different nationalities. I do not know what proportion of the 500 million people who live in the member states of the entire European Union are over the age of 66. That is what we have to protect. One cannot normally discriminate under EU law, particularly EU welfare law. If a member state gives something to its own citizens, it has to...

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: That is what it is endeavouring to do, but it has to be certain.

Northern Ireland Issues. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. I welcome the publication of the final report on the murder of Séamus Ludlow, which was published by the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights on 30 March last. The publication of the report represents another significant milestone in the investigation of this brutal murder. I am aware that the joint...

Northern Ireland Issues. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the Séamus Ludlow inquiry, I have at all times kept the British Government totally informed over the years, under the process set up for the review by the late Mr. Justice Hamilton and later by Mr. Justice Barron report, the various Oireachtas reports on it and now the MacEntee investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, which is ongoing. In the case of Mr. Justice Barron's...

Northern Ireland Issues. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have met different members of the Ludlow family a number of times and I know what was stated in the hearings before the committee. During their appearances before the committee the Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, his predecessor, Pat Byrne, and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform have all apologised for the failings of the State. I am aware the Oireachtas committee's report...

Leaders' Questions. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the first point the Deputy made, the legislative provisions for the granting of bail are very stringent. The 16th amendment to the Constitution provides for the refusal of bail to a person charged with a serious offence where it is reasonably considered necessary to prevent the commission of a serious offence by that person. We amended the law to deal with that. The Bail Act 1997 gave...

Leaders' Questions. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I again make the point I made earlier on bail. Before we changed the law, the courts had no power to keep somebody in prison pending a trial. Regardless of how likely they were to re-offend and even if they were certain to re-offend, the courts could not do that. The purpose of the Act was to give them that right. I do not see the point of setting it down — I think it is clear. While I do...

Leaders' Questions. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I have always stated that policing is an enormously important issue in bringing normality to Northern Ireland. It is one of the few major outstanding issues and I have never deviated from that view. The Prime Minister and I emphasised the importance of this in January and in March. We have also emphasised that we would ask all parties, particularly Sinn Féin, to be clear on the devolution of...

Leaders' Questions. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: I hope Deputy Rabbitte believes me when I say I did not read the interview. I will read it, but I do not need to read it to know that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has always been strong on criminality in all its forms and has never gone easy with anyone, on any side in Northern Ireland, or in his own Border region, who has been engaged in criminal activity. He has been one of the most...

Leaders' Questions. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy raised a number of points. He has asked me to account for somebody else's views which I will not do. People are entitled to their views, be they medical practitioners or teachers and I am not going to examine people's views. The national statistics for suicide show a figure of approximately 400 a year. Recent research shows that the most vulnerable category is single adult males. I...

Leaders' Questions. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The Deputy raised some points, which I have already answered in terms of how we are dealing with this issue in a caring way through the education system. He has asked me to confirm again the position on the national strategy for action on suicide prevention. That strategy was launched in September of last year. It builds on the existing policy and on the recommendations of the report of the...

Leaders' Questions. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: We have moved forward with the Reach Out strategy which was launched last year. We have invested resources in this area. I will not answer Deputy Ó Caoláin's point in terms of trying to identify which groups are most likely to commit suicide. The Deputy made great play of arguing with what Deputy McDaid, a medical doctor who has raised this issue many times in his medical career, not to...

Leaders' Questions. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Whatever reasons or categories of people are involved, we must try to deal with them. The 1998 report of the national task force on suicide set out the position on this issue. The Government launched Reach Out — A National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention ten months ago. We have allocated resources to the national task force on suicide and to the education system in terms of the...