No 100th birthday gift cheque for woman living abroad
Hanoria O'Leary from the Co Kerry village of Sneem was denied her €2,540 cheque from the president because she has been living with her daughter in England since she was 75.
"This money is paid strictly to people who are resident in this country at the time they celebrate their 100th birthday once they have emigrated for a number of years they are no longer entitled to the money," the President's spokesperson said.
This is the Government regulation and a position Aras an Uachtarain cannot change for one individual she added.
But Hanoria O'Leary who returned to her native Sneem to celebrate her 100th birthday with family and friends saw the celebrations turned sour when she received the letter from the Aras outlining their policy on non-residents not getting the gift. The letter wished her a happy birthday on behalf of the president.
Hanoria's daughter, Mary-Anne, said her mother was very disappointed to receive this letter especially since she had spent most of her life in Ireland.
"It is not because of our own disappointment, but because of how it affects a wider circle of people who, for whatever reason, left to live with family outside the State," Mary-Anne added.
She stressed that it was the principle, rather than the money itself, which is causing deep hurt and annoyance.
Hanoria who has been living with her daughter, Bridget, in England since she was 75 did not realise until her 100th birthday celebrations that she would be denied the president's cheque because she was a non-resident.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael yesterday called for a review of the guideline for the payments of the Presidential Bounty paid to pensioners who reach the age of 100.
Fine Gael's Social and Family Affairs spokesperson Denis Staunton said last year only 99 people received the Presidential Bounty.
"I don't believe that a relaxation of the rules would open the floodgates I think that this is something the minister should look at and make provision for paying the bounty where he is reasonably satisfied the recipient is an Irish national who has reached 100 years," Deputy Staunton added.
