Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise that I do not have printed copies of my script available for circulation, but that will be rectified shortly. My officials are making arrangements to have some brought here as soon as possible.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú i dtosach an tsuí inniu.

The issue of remuneration or benefits for Irish citizens working for the OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine is under review by the Department of Foreign Affairs. I expect that a conclusion will be reached this year. Currently ten Irish citizens are working in the special monitoring mission to the Ukraine. Ireland contributes directly to the OSCE and the OSCE special monitoring mission budgets but, like many OSCE participating states, we do not offer additional payment packages to Irish citizens directly recruited and employed by the OSCE.

Irish citizens can apply for two categories of overseas positions. Contracted positions offer salaries and other allowances and benefits that are similar to those offered under the UN Common System. The other category of post includes payment from the OSCE of a boarding and lodging allowance, currently €125 per day, and a package of life and disability insurance. The employment is limited to the duration of the mission mandate and is renewed formally every year. Some special monitoring mission members, that is, those serving in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast, also receive an additional €30 in hazard pay. The OSCE covers the cost of travel from Vienna to field missions and travel expenses for a return trip home once per annum.

The recruitment process is handled by the OSCE and Irish citizens have a clear choice of applying for contracted jobs or for positions that provide a less comprehensive package of allowances. For those Irish citizens interested in working overseas, the Department and the EU jobs system provide many opportunities and a variety of potential positions. The Department runs a rapid response core roster of highly skilled professionals deployed at short notice to humanitarian emergencies for a period of three to six months. The Department also deploys Irish citizens to the EU Common Security and Defence Policy missions. Those positions are remunerated with a stipend provided with an allowance living costs and reimbursed for a number of expenses.

Irish citizens applying for positions with the special monitoring mission to the Ukraine, or any other positions within the OSCE, have all the conditions of employment outlined prior to the application process. The rules are transparent and the Department, when approached, is very clear about the lack of remuneration or allowances from it. There are many different approaches taken by the OSCE participating States, ranging from comprehensive to more basic. The majority of states pay nothing in addition to their citizens working for the OSCE and so there is no common approach from EU member states on this issue. Nonetheless, the Department is once again considering possible ways of providing additional benefits to Irish citizens working for the OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine and will make a decision in that regard in the coming months.