Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I support the amendment. People in this country are very decent and honourable and they look out for their neighbours. I have seen that in my constituency when serious tragedies occurred in the past. Collections were made when, for one reason or another, the State was unable to do the job it was required to do.

I agree with the thrust of the amendment. On Committee Stage we made a strong case and we were told that one-off collections would not be affected by the legislation. I hope that will be the case. That is important because one never knows when a problem will arise. I accept there may be concerns that one-off situations may run on and that they should be regulated, but in almost all cases when people collect money in order to do a good deed for their neighbour such problems do not arise. I am familiar with many such cases, for example, when a person had to go abroad for hospital treatment or, as Deputy Ciarán Lynch outlined, when someone's home burned down and he or she did not have house insurance and the State was not able to pick up the tab. Something has to be done in those circumstances. I support the Labour Party amendment.

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