Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017
395. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason members of the rapid response corps are required to produce tax clearance certificates while members of the election roster are not; if he has been in contact with the Revenue Commissioners to discuss if tax clearance should apply to election roster members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35412/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra397. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if only non-remunerated election observers are eligible for the volunteer grant paid to Irish election observers; if there have been cases that subsequent to the payment of the grant the persons declined to go on a mission on a volunteer basis; if refunds were sought of the grants paid in which persons declined to go on a mission or were appointed to a remunerated consultancy post on the mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35414/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 395 and 397 together.
International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of election observers for such missions. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
The Department also maintains a Rapid Response Roster of highly skilled and experienced professionals available to deploy at short notice to humanitarian emergencies anywhere in the world. The key difference between the conditions for members of the two rosters is that members of the Rapid Response Roster are remunerated. Members of the Election Roster who are nominated as long or short term observers by the Department do not receive remuneration. They are paid a daily allowance, as determined by the EU and the OSCE, to cover the cost of food, accommodation and other out-of-pocket expenses, along with a pre-departure grant of €600. Members of the Rapid Response Roster require a Tax Clearance Certificate, as they are remunerated. Officials of the Department are in contact with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to any possible need for Tax Clearance Certificates for election observers.
The pre-departure grant of €600 to cover expenses including vaccinations and transport costs ahead of travel to the country in question is only paid to members of the roster. If an election is cancelled or an observer is unable to travel, the Department generally seeks reimbursement of the grant, but does take into account each particular circumstance. In one case, the grant was paid to an Irish observer who had commenced preparations and incurred mission-related expenditure. At a late stage, the European Union appointed this observer to the EU Core Managing Team for the election mission. Given the lateness of the appointment and the fact that pre-departure expenditure had been incurred, the Department did not seek the repayment of the grant.
