Results 5,481-5,500 of 10,459 for speaker:Bertie Ahern

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: Yes, and into the future. It applies to every eligible Irish person, no matter when he or she was born. There is provision in the scheme whereby someone born before 1906 who did not apply previously can do so retrospectively. Anyone alive today who was born before that date is entitled to apply.

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It did not apply previously, since the scheme was far more limited. However, legal advice that I had requested and taking into account the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2001 is that any person born on the island of Ireland before the commencement of that Act is entitled to this as an Irish citizen and that only an Irish citizen is entitled. The view was that the provisions should...

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: On the general point that Deputy Rabbitte has raised, over the life of this Government, with no urgings from anybody, we have made a large number of decisions that have helped emigrants, including helping local authorities with housing, dealing with many aspects of health, improving the DION grants, establishing the consular service in the United States to fund organisations that we...

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: God knows. Only 141 bounties, however, were paid in 2005. Whatever the figure, on that basis we lost close to 450 or 460 of the centenarians. There are Irish people who did not receive the bounty so it is worth making an effort to find them. This corrects a matter that elderly people considered unreasonable.

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It is.

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: The embassies and consular service must follow up on the proof of birth in Ireland. It is not just a matter of making an application, the candidates must prove they were born here. We are probably lucky in this country to have some of the best records available, including parish records of all the denominations that were active around the country then. The candidates must verify age, place of...

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: As I have stated three times, persons must have been born in Ireland but can be resident anywhere on their 100th birthday. They must be Irish citizens who were born in Ireland and be able to prove they were born anywhere on the island of Ireland.

Centenarian Bounty. (9 May 2006)

Bertie Ahern: It will apply to anyone born on the island of Ireland. It is not for somebody who arrives here at age 98 and claims to be 100.

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...