Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

If we on this side of the House have an issue with the IFA we stand up to it, as we do to Deputy Gormley. We could not be bullied by it.

There is a rather toxic quality to the relationship between the IFA and Self Help to the point where the IFA has withdrawn its support for that organisation. That is a matter of profound regret and concern to me because it has implications for the underlying funding of Self Help which relies heavily on private contributions or subscriptions. It worries me that such a well-known organisation with a countrywide network of contacts as a fundraising pool has withdrawn support from Self Help.

Self Help is one of the smallest of the five MAPS participants. We contribute €3 million, whereas we give GOAL €1.5 million a month and Concern between €19 million and €20 million a year. Self Help is small but effective. Its projects on the ground are of the highest quality and have stood up to inquiry, investigation and evaluation.

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