Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

——and that the State agencies would not have the same status as charities. The Minister of State said on Committee Stage he would examine this matter. It is not the case that I do not want the HSE or Pobal to be eligible for tax exemption, but I do not want there to be any confusion between genuine charities and State agencies which are under the control of the Minister and the State. The Minister of State might clarify the position. We want two separate agencies. Charities work on the ground day to day while State charities are under the control of the Minister, and the latter should be under a separate agency.

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