Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

We have heard some soporific views expressed on the other side of the House. The Government is about to commit a political raid on the €200 million contained in the dormant accounts fund for those most in need, the community and anti-poverty organisations. In the past, decisions were not made on behalf of those groups by the Minister of State or his Department but by the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board. The Minister of State's political raid on that €200 million is disgraceful and shameful. He stands accused of the most awful political action in taking from community anti-poverty groups, which represent the most needy in society, the facility of an independent decision-making process in regard to the badly needed funding they receive. The Minister of State is taking for himself the decision-making capacity to distribute that money as he wishes and at his consent. The issue has been utterly politicised.

I do not know much about the organisation of which the Minister of State has spoken. However, it is clearly a well organised group with nationwide experience of working in this area and it has been treated shamefully by the Government. The Minister of State has handled this matter in a disgraceful fashion and should resign.

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