Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Like the other leaders, the Green Party welcomes the task force on active citizenship. I often feel that volunteers in Ireland must feel like the boy on the burning deck with the flames getting higher and higher, given the time-poor lives many people are forced to live. I also acknowledge those involved as scout leaders, in tidy towns and parent teacher associations and teachers in many schools. It seems to be the same people again and again who highlight the problem.

Will the Taoiseach help Mary Davis and her committee in terms of measures to meet them half way, given the enormity of the task they face if they are to turn around a trend of less and less volunteerism and active citizenship in society generally? I certainly witness that trend. Will the Government bring forward the charity legislation to regulate the sector given that so much active citizenship is dependent on the work of charities? However, they are often in a legal limbo. Likewise, a designated week for volunteers——

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