Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. I thank the Minister of State for responding to this issue. He hit the nail on the head, in that there is an anomaly in the taxation system. An individual can get a tax rebate of 23% on the purchase of a defibrillator whereas a sporting organisation or club of volunteers cannot. This anomaly needs to be adjusted.

If there is a European VAT issue in general, there is no better time to examine this matter than as part of our European Presidency. I call on the Minister for Finance to address it. This anomaly does not just affect the Republic of Ireland. Rather, it is a problem across the world. I am sure that, if negotiations on this issue occurred at EU level, we would receive a positive response.

Defibrillators are a proven life-saving measure. Last year, 132 young lives were saved because clubs voluntarily adopted the good practice of providing these machines. Indeed, Members can be assured by the presence of one inside Leinster House as well as on other premises.

The Minister of State referred to the situation in the 1980s. We have moved on a great deal since then, particularly so in terms of this issue. Sudden death syndrome, which arises from heart attacks, is a recognised difficulty. A means of dealing with such emergencies at club, voluntary and sporting events has been identified, that is, having these machines to hand, just as is the case in this building.

Via the Minister of State, I ask that the Department of Health re-examine this issue and, in so doing, engage with the Department of Finance to explain the anomaly in the system and to ensure that the issue is addressed during our European Presidency.

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