Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In respect of what we are doing with the CRC and Rehab, I appreciate that it is an important issue and that the charity sector needs to be addressed but I am concerned about where we are going and what we are opening up. My understanding is that our job is to oversee the money the State spends. When it has been allocated in a tender, my understanding is that it has gone outside our remit. What happened with the CRC was obviously very necessary and what we are doing with Rehab is very necessary but I am not sure where we are and what the benefit is. We all agree that we need to clean up the charity sector. We are putting in place a charity board and must put in place rules concerning how accounts must be displayed and regulations concerning what people can earn and pensions. None of this has been in place up to now. If we go down this road, can we bring in all the solicitors, auditors and LEADER companies - everybody who receives money from the State? Can we bring them in and ask them how they spend this money, how they pay their staff and what their pension funds are?