Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am happy to work with him and colleagues from across the Houses, and especially with Deputies Creed and Moynihan, in respect of the Irish Community Air Ambulance organisation. The fundamental issue here is the €320,000 in VAT being paid by a charitable body to the State, when the organisation in question is tasked with being called out at all hours. Last Friday, we debated the Acting Chair's motion on search and rescue services. This Commencement matter is also about search and rescue and concerns an organisation which saves lives and brings people for care and treatment. The Irish Community Air Ambulance was called out 490 times in 2020 and 225 times this year so far, and that gives us an indication of the level of activity of the organisation. I hope we can find a means and a mechanism to do something about this situation. I appreciate that the hands of the Minister of State are tied, but I hope we can be creative in this regard.