Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, I put it to the Taoiseach that citizens with disabilities do not have equality. It is my contention that this State has failed since its inception to provide services that would be afforded to every citizen if this were a real republic. The gap has been filled by charities. I wish to praise the work they do. Since the foundation of the State, however, charities have not been regulated, and that is now doing untold damage - I am sure the Taoiseach would agree - both to the charities and to those citizens who depend on them. Recent scandals such as that surrounding the CRC and now the major question mark over fund-raising by Rehab are causing enormous disquiet. Tá a fhios ag an pobal nach bhfuil rud ar bith chomh dona leis an saint agus sílim go n-aontaíonn an Taoiseach le sin.

In 2009 Fianna Fáil passed legislation to regulate the charities sector but never implemented the legislative provisions. In February 2012, my colleague Deputy Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, why the Act was not being implemented. In his reply the Minister said it was not practical to proceed with the full implementation of the Act at that time given the financial and staffing resources that would be required. Hence, he said, the implementation of the Act had been deferred. He went on to claim that it was not a fact that charities in Ireland were devoid of oversight. We know that there is not enough oversight. Yesterday, Sinn Féin introduced a Bill that seeks to ensure that all the provisions of the Charities Act 2009 are fully enacted by 31 May 2014, but the Government opposed it.

Will the Taoiseach reconsider that position? We welcome some of the steps taken by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, but all provisions of the Act need to be enacted. Will the Taoiseach support Sinn Féin’s Bill to implement all provisions of the Charities Act 2009 which has been sitting on the Statute Book for the past five years, including the three years of this Government’s term?

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