Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

To clarify, Irish Community Rapid Response is registered as a charity in Ireland. That is not the issue. The issue is that it buys a service from Sloane Helicopters, which is based in the United Kingdom. This operates very well and a model has been developed on this basis. After Brexit, however, in order to operate in an EU member state, Sloane Helicopters will have to be registered in an EU member state, and that member state would likely be Ireland because. It makes sense that as it is providing a service here it would be registered here. As a result, it would have to charge Irish Community Rapid Response VAT. The point I am making is the organisation is providing a service. It is a charity that is fundraising throughout the country. It provides a service that fulfils a clear commitment that was given in the programme for Government. It has not asked for any State financial contribution towards this. It is also using its second helicopter, which is based in the midlands, to support the State service to the Air Corps,. As a result of Brexit, and through no fault of its own, in order for the company to be regulated and operate in this jurisdiction, it will have to re-register and charge this Irish-based charity VAT. The charity is being penalised as a result of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. It is a charity that assists the State and the Air Corps and fulfils a commitment in the programme for Government.

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