Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Would it be possible to engage in a debate on the charities regulator who is due to be appointed? Major distrust has developed among people who are used to giving money to charities but who are now stepping back because they are not sure if the money is going to the charities themselves. Would it be possible to develop a system whereby we could put in place a charity headquarters? This could be staffed by volunteers and others willing to give of their time. Instead of having many different organisations, each with its own overheads on which it is obliged to spend moneys from the contributions it receives before spending them for charitable purposes, we could have a headquarters model such as that to which I refer. I am of the view that this would engender huge confidence and trust among members of the public. Perhaps it might be possible to do something in this regard in order that people might have confidence that when they make donations, the money will go directly to the charity involved and will not be used up in other ways.

I also suggest that at some point during the coming weeks we should debate the new public service reform plan and the progress report on the previous plan. Senators received copies of both documents in the past week or so and there is great reading in them. The new plan and the progress report provide a reminder of how much work is taking place and how much more needs to be done. However, we do not appear to devote to this matter the attention it deserves.

The British have announced their attention to abolish their existing motor tax system. Our motor tax system has been in place since before Independence and people have always been obliged to display a tax disc in their front windscreens.

Instead of doing their job of protecting citizens, gardaí have become tax collectors and much of their time is spent checking whether motor tax has been paid. This role should not be allocated to the Garda. I am sure we can learn from the British system which is based on an online model. We have been using the same system of placing a motor tax disc on the car windscreen since motor taxation was introduced 50 or 60 years ago. It would be much more efficient to do this online. While I am aware that we are moving in this direction, a better system must be available and we should learn from what is being done abroad.