Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I was struck, coming up to Christmas, with the number of fundraisers with open buckets on the streets of Dublin. I was reminded that the same fundraisers seem to operate with different charities. I am not sure what the position is in regard to our charity legislation. One wonders what proportion of a donation is received by the charity, given that fund raisers very often are paid on a percentage profit basis. Is it time to review our charity legislation as the British are doing? I read yesterday in the Queen's speech in Britain that a charities Bill is being introduced to secure some control over collections. In the case of some charities such as St. Vincent de Paul one knows that every euro donated goes to the charity. Others might not have the same constraints.

I was impressed, on seeing a list of the 23 Bills in the British legislative programme and the seven draft Bills they have introduced, to see in many cases that they are following us. There are some that we should consider following. They intend, for example, to have a Bill for the House of Lords to remove some of the hereditary peers. The aim is to select some non-party members. I am not suggesting that should become part of the review of the Seanad, but perhaps it should be considered.