Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

When people think of charity, they generally think of those things over and above basic necessities that make life and living a bit better for the poor, disabled and disadvantaged. Many charitable groups fulfil a role in this regard but in the current economic climate charity is a necessity for many. It was said that over the Christmas period, probably every Member helped in, organised or supported the raising of funds for various charities, be they local, national or international. I am sure that each of us met many constituents who simply could not survive, let alone live a life with dignity, without the helping and willing hands of some charity or other. Unfortunately, many rely on charity, sometimes just to make ends meet. This is the context in which any discussion on charity must take place.

How can we, as legislators, regulate charities so they can provide the greatest support possible for the people they aim to serve? As recent events have shown, there is clearly a need for this regulation to be stringent, transparent and fair. There can be no doubt as to the sincerity of the vast majority who work with the various charities in the country. Those involved in charities are among the most selfless and giving of people. They often do most of their work unnoticed by the general public, and it is rare that they get honoured in the public sphere. This, however, does not mean that their work should be unappreciated. The recent scandals surrounding the CRC should not detract from the considerable good work done by so many of those working with various charities.

As Sinn Féin spokesperson on communications, energy and natural resources, I am keenly aware of some of the sterling work carried out by various charities involved in tackling fuel poverty. It is striking to note that a quarter of what the Society of St. Vincent de Paul gives to families is spent on fuel and energy for homes. Despite enduring relatively mild winters, Ireland and the United Kingdom have the highest rates of seasonal mortality in northern Europe. It has been shown that such mortality rates result in no small part from inadequately protected, thermally inefficient housing stock. An increased rate of morbidity and a higher incidence of various cardiovascular and respiratory diseases have been associated with chronic cold exposure within the home through living in fuel-poor conditions.

The charity ALONE was founded by Dublin fireman Willie Birmingham in 1977 after he came across an elderly man who had literally frozen to death in a flat in Dublin city. The charity still works today to attempt to alleviate the suffering of many elderly people. Poorer and more vulnerable householders typically live in worse quality housing and have the fewest resources and opportunities to invest in improving their houses' efficiency and heating technology. That unnecessary deaths recur year on year should be a national scandal. The connotation is that the very lives of those affected matter less than they might among the not so old and not so cold. I acknowledge that the Government has invested in insulating homes but it is not enough or happening fast enough.

We have all been aware over recent weeks of the scandalous abuse of taxpayers' and generous citizens' moneys donated to a small number of charities. It is obscene to see what some of the senior executives of some charitable organisations receive by way of annual salary and expenses. It is questionably criminal as well as obscene that the money of hard-pressed citizens, given in good faith and through generosity to help improve the lives of people with disabilities, should be diverted to slush funds to provide pension benefits that most people could only dream of to those same executives. This rumpus arose only in the past month but I have no doubt that these unethical practices have been occurring for years.

I have serious concerns that these practices are more widespread than currently reported. What we are seeing may have been regarded as fair game and the norm by certain people who were put, by the political system, into positions that they could exploit for their own gain. Was this their pay-off for loyal political party membership? Corruption works best from the top down.

We must consider the role of auditors and accountants in all of this. As with the banking meltdown, auditors and accountants either noticed nothing wrong or noticed something but said nothing in the belief that it was an acceptable part of the prevailing culture.

There is something seriously wrong there. What is important now is to protect those depending on charity while ensuring the correct legislation, policies, practices, culture and checks are in place to minimise the opportunity for corrupt practices. There are some who will try to use this scandal to blacken the reputation and work of all charities and of all those people working for the agencies where unacceptable practices have presented. The Government, however, must resist the temptation to reduce or eliminate support to charitable organisations providing essential services. The Government's responsibility is to ensure there is proper legislation, policies and checks in place to ensure that all public moneys, whether provided by taxpayers or through voluntary contributions, are spent and accounted for properly. This Private Members' motion seeks to put in place the first piece of the very necessary legislation.

It can be argued that much of what is done in the name of charity in this country is simply filling the gaps in what should be quality, State-provided services. The majority of those who work for and support charitable organisations do so for the highest of idealistic reasons. It would be tragic if the actions of a few selfish, greedy, unprincipled and unregulated individuals were to blemish the record of so many heroic volunteers or, more importantly, were to undermine the very necessary services provided to those who need them most. This amendment to legislation would help the public to know that they can give in confidence to the charities of their choice. It would also give them the confidence to know that they will not be conned again. We should also urgently consider how best to legislate to ensure all aspects of cronyism, school-tie networks and silver and golden circles are tackled, whether they are in charities, State or semi-State bodies, political life, private, commercial or professional services because clearly, the banks are not the only offenders here.

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