John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

I reiterated the position regarding human rights and the position for existing charities. I specifically set out the charitable purposes for which new charities could be recognised. That maintains the status quo. I refer to the remarks of Deputy Wall on the wider issue of trustees and trust law. There is a difference between the wider issue and the matter with which we are dealing. I accept the point made. Deputy Ring mentioned the matter of trustees. It became apparent as we proceeded with the legislation that frequently, trustees are well qualified people with technical expertise in either law, finance or whatever, and that they frequently offer that expertise at a greatly reduced rate to a given charity. Had we not tabled this amendment it could have adversely affected many charities. I thank the Deputies for their support in this regard.

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