Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

I shall respond to the two amendments as well and begin by welcoming the Minister's amendment which is long overdue. There are two types of robbery for which people are committed. One gets robbed blindly, unknown to oneself, and one is robbed in the course of doing something only to discover one is doing something else one never intended. In the latter situation, there is a particular violation where people believe they are being charitable and find they are being conned. It is quite upsetting because essentially it is a robbery of a person's goodwill, quite apart from the possession he or she will have lost.

Ireland's reputation for giving is one of the things of which we can be very proud. In the midst of the last great depression experienced in this country in 1985 when the Live Aid concerts took place, Ireland was the highest per capita donor to that programme. I was living abroad at the time, like many of my generation all over the world in different countries, watching the Live Aid concerts. It made us feel very proud how much money Ireland had given to the Live Aid project. This is something that is innate in us. Even as we enter another depression, we can be sure that level of charity and goodwill will continue. I welcome specifically both the intent and outcome of the Minister's amendment to this Bill.

As regards Deputy Ring's amendment, that is a unique Irish action, the granting and usage of mass cards. Ironically, it is something the Catholic Church regulates quite extensively. One cannot get a card signed in every church and not every priest can sign a card. I believe papal permission must be granted before a priest may engage in this and only certain religious orders have it. The Catholic Church has been very mindful of the whole practice of having mass cards signed.

It has been reported that "signed" mass cards are now available in petrol stations. One can get €20 of petrol and a signed mass card going out the door. Surely that is something the Minister should be looking at. I question the practice of buying mass cards in such a fashion, because in the event, people are knowingly complying with a very deceptive practice. There is a particular context in which mass cards operate, as a charity, however, because much of the money collected goes to India and other overseas missions. It is for particular religious orders which provide a strong charitable service in the local communities and missions abroad. Obviously, Deputy Ring's amendment will not be passed, but I ask the Minister of State to give this further consideration when it moves onto the next stage.

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