Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I disagree totally with what the Minister of State has said. This issue was brought to my attention by an individual who is affected by it. The person in question, who has been doing excellent voluntary aid work with the likes of Médecins Sans Frontières in Africa and Afghanistan, wants to come back to Ireland to further their education in the field of overseas aid and development, but is unable to do so. This individual has no money and is trying to rely on the help of various family members. The current absurd approach runs contrary to this country's foreign policy and is incompatible with the esteem that has been afforded to volunteers, particularly by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Irish Aid volunteering initiative, which I mentioned. All of this means nothing if the various Departments do not talk to each other. It has been suggested that if we make the change I am proposing, people will shop around as part of what has been described as "grant tourism", but surely we can verify whether someone has been working for a non-governmental organisation overseas, having previously lived here. Any time one travels to work in one of these countries, it is all very well documented. It seems to me that there would be no abuse of the approach I am proposing because the circumstances of voluntary work overseas lend themselves to standing up to scrutiny. Such an approach would still allow our talented young people, who have enjoyed many privileges while living here, to give something back by going to these countries. I remind the House that their efforts are not an incidental part of the delivery of this country's aid programme. There seems to be no recognition of the crucial role they play.

On the question of showing flexibility to students, I reiterate that no flexibility is being shown in the case I have highlighted. This person has been left high and dry. I have referred to the Minister's enlightened decision to open the higher education grant scheme to youngsters living in direct provision who have been through our education system but whose residency and citizenship status is in limbo. I agree that these young people need to be looked after, but why can we not look after our own people in the circumstances I have outlined? The change I am recommending would not affect thousands and thousands of people. I remind the Minister of State that a means test is required in these cases. Anyone who is paid a salary for working for an Irish aid organisation overseas will obviously have that money in the bank when they come back. I am talking about volunteers, however. Can we not do something better for them? I find the Minister of State's response very unsatisfactory. I have written to the Minister on this issue. I cannot change my view on account of anything the Minister of State has said. These are real cases involving real people. We should not discourage them from doing a very worthwhile thing on behalf of this country in order to improve the circumstances of people in other parts of the world.

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