Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This measure makes no sense at all. It is unnecessary and foolish in the extreme. It is politically mad and counterproductive. The feedback I have got from organisations in my county is that they are absolutely amazed and cannot understand it. They are asking me if this is for real. They are asking if it is possible that this will get through the Houses of the Oireachtas. It is a highly contentious issue that needs to be addressed. It is as simple as that.

All of us who work in rural Ireland and who understand how it gets by appreciate how difficult it is to get people to volunteer in voluntary organisations, to ask them to give up their time, make a commitment and make the sacrifices necessary to keep organisations afloat. Those organisations are depending on local people to support them. Every GAA club, voluntary and community organisation, charitable organisation and sports club depends on fundraising. They depend on advertising that fundraising and need that money to stay afloat.

The umbrella groups for all of those organisations have rejected this measure. They have highlighted its impact and the consequences for their organisations. We would be totally tone deaf not to accept and realise that. I do not know how this ever got into legislation. I am sure the officials sitting beside the Minister of State brought it forward, or someone in his Department did.

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