Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

I want to confirm my support for this Private Members' Bill. The activities uncovered recently in charity boards, with salary top-ups and pension payments, is completely unacceptable and an affront to the ordinary people of this country, who are paying through the nose for a recession which had they no hand, act or part in creating. The debacle we have seen has the potential to destroy the base of charity donations, as has been indicated in various surveys over a period. That is beginning to happen, and if the process continues, it will completely undermine the services being provided by the various agencies, such as the Central Remedial Clinic.

A host of services is being provided in this sector at national and local level. Many if not all these services should be provided by the State. Local and national organisations provide services on behalf of the State, with locals serving in a voluntary basis on boards and doing an excellent job. The debacle we have witnessed reflects very poorly on the very good work being done at that local and national level by many organisations, with individuals serving on a voluntary basis on the boards.

This issue again reflects the fundamentally unacceptable policy of the Government. There is an elite golden circle who are cosseted and supported; they have made money from being central to the collapse of this economy, and they continue to make money from our current position.

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