Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy who has made a very good point. In the past there has certainly been a level of overreliance on a small number of very large international philanthropic organisations. As the policy goes forward I will be supportive of getting more Irish-based medium-sized philanthropic giving throughout the country. There is an argument for it being area-based also. There have been some proposals in this regard from foundations working in the area, whereby we should encourage a localised form of philanthropic giving. It is already happening but it is certainly an area of huge untapped potential in the country. There are many good people and businesses who want to make a contribution towards improving society. It is certainly our intention that the policy will facilitate this in a much better way than it has in the past.

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