Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When this Bill was raised initially, I supported it to get it across the line so we could find out exactly what it entailed. I come from a huge sporting county, of all sports and none, especially horses, dogs and sporting clubs. At the moment, the Government is making announcements about all and sundry that it can get out before the election with regard to grants that are going to be provided to many of our sporting clubs and community centres. Many of those grants are also going to have to be subsidised by clubs raising money and funds to get their projects over the line. A huge amount of community effort will go into it.

I was not aware that this was going to actually impinge on charities, especially one that I would support every time I get the opportunity, and that is the Jack and Jill Foundation. I had a very heartfelt email from it and I have consulted the people I speak to in Wexford. Everybody is against this. It has particularly been pointed out to me that political party fundraising is not affected by this Bill. That is completely disingenuous, and I do not know how the Minister of State could sit there and have a debate with Danny Healy-Rae when he knows that his own party is not going to be affected in its fundraising efforts by this Bill but the Jack and Jill Foundation will be.

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