Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

These groups constantly talk about empowerment, and they are well capable of doing this work. Regarding Deputy Gregory's point about clarity, perhaps the easiest way to bring this about would be to remove those groups. I accept what the Deputy has said about the wording being vague in connection with similar non-commercial groups. The wording was phrased with a view to being inclusive of these groups that are there not just to make money but that provide a service for the community.

If it comes to deleting that provision and restricting it to the residents and tenants associations, parish and district associations and groups and sports clubs, that can be done. However, it is important to include the youth groups, for example, who would not be included in those categories. If there is a better way of doing it, I am willing to examine it in the Seanad. Another way of doing it would be if Deputy Gregory would give me a list of the people he thinks should qualify, but I am quite sure that he will not do that.

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