[Senate Treaty Document 106-43] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 106th Congress Treaty Doc. SENATE 2d Session 106-43 _______________________________________________________________________ PROTOCOL AMENDING THE 1950 CONSULAR CONVENTION WITH IRELAND __________ MESSAGE from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES transmitting PROTOCOL AMENDING THE 1950 CONSULAR CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND IRELAND, SIGNED AT WASHINGTON ON JUNE 16, 1998September 5, 2000.--The Protocol was read the first time, and together with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate ______ U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 79-112 WASHINGTON : 2000 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL ---------- The White House, September 5, 2000. To the Senate of the United States: I transmit herewith, for the Senate's advice and consent to ratification, the Protocol Amending the 1950 Consular Convention Between the United States of America and Ireland, signed at Washington on June 16, 1998. Also transmitted for the information of the Senate is the report of the Department of State with respect to the Protocol. The Protocol expands the scope of tax exemption under the 1950 Consular Convention Between the United States of America and Ireland to provide for reciprocal exemption from all taxes, including Value Added Taxes (VAT) on goods and services for the official use of the mission or for the personal use of mission members and families. The amendment will provide financial benefit to the United States, both through direct savings on embassy purchases of goods and services as well as through lowering the cost of living for United States Government employees assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Dublin. Because the Protocol will achieve long-term tax exemption on the purchase of goods and services for our embassy and personnel in Ireland, I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the Protocol and give its advice and consent to ratification. William J. Clinton. LETTER OF SUBMITTAL ---------- Department of State, Washington, June 14, 2000. The President, The White House. The President: I have the honor to submit to you, with a view to its transmission to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification, a Protocol Amending the 1950 Consular Convention Between the United States of America and Ireland, signed at Washington on June 16, 1998 (the ``Protocol''). The Protocol expands the scope of the reciprocal tax exemption granted under the 1950 Consular Convention Between the United States of America and Ireland to provide exemption from all taxes on purchases by diplomatic and consular missions, members of such missions and their families. Specifically, Articles 1-4 of the Protocol provide for reciprocal exemption from all taxes, including Value Added Taxes (VAT), on goods and services for the official use of the diplomatic or consular mission as well as for the personal use of mission members and their families. Article 5 assures that the Protocol does not expand the legal obligations of the United States by stating that the grant of tax exemption in Ireland under the Protocol is coextensive with that afforded by the United States under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. As a result of this amendment to the 1950 Convention, the United States will derive financial benefits through direct savings on embassy purchases of goods and services as well as through lowering the cost of living for United States Government employees assigned to Embassy Dublin. Overall, the Protocol Amending the 1950 Consular Convention will further develop and strengthen our relations with Ireland and benefit the interests of nationals of both countries. I recommend that the Protocol be transmitted to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification. Respectfully submitted, Madeleine Albright.
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