Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last week, RTE's "Prime Time" examined and exposed how a charity, Console, spends its money. Last April, the HSE did an audit, which is with senior management in the HSE. Console is a well known, well respected and highly regarded national charity which helps families which have lost members through suicide. It provides a 24-hour phone helpline to anybody who is distressed about themselves or a family member. It receives a staggering 3,400 phone calls per month, more than 100 per day. It has offices all over the country and our President is the national patron.

However, people who watched the programme were shocked, stunned and appalled at the allegations of misappropriation of funds. Console has received €2.5 million from the HSE in recent years to help it provide counselling services. Almost half its money comes directly from taxpayers through State organisations and the balance is raised through fundraising and donations from the public. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade allocated €130,000 to Console to enable it to support Irish emigrants in the UK.

Like all charities, Console depends on the goodwill of people. Thousands of people do charity walks, cycles and other fundraising activities each year to raise funds for Console. Yesterday, I listened to restaurant owner Derry Clarke speaking on the radio. He lost his son and, afterwards, he organised a charity cycle which raised more than €250,000 for Console's good work. He expressed the genuine hurt he felt about the allegations that were made and how he felt abused by the use of the funds he had raised and donated to Console. The CEO of Console, Paul Kelly, has since resigned. He said he had not intentionally done anything wrong. The Garda is examining the use of the funds, some of which was allegedly spent on trips to conferences in New Zealand for family members. "Prime Time" alleged that the CEO of Console had received payments of over €215,000, which allegedly is in breach of company law and Revenue regulations.

The charities regulator exists to increase public trust and confidence in the management of charities. Was the regulator aware of the allegations about Console? They have seemingly been well known to some people for many years. Did the Tánaiste discuss the revelations with the charities regulator? Will the charities regulator investigate the matter? What action is the Tánaiste taking to ensure other charities are being monitored and audited to ensure no such abuse of State funding or people's donations occurs in those areas? How will the State ensure the abuse of State funding or people's donations to charities is prevented in the future?

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