Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

That is the spin and I am delighted the Senator has admitted this. I am correct in suggesting that there is a spin which runs right through the various contributions of Members on the Government side. The reality, as most can see, is that this is about control, arrogance and greed; that Ministers want to share in what is now a slush fund of €500 million. Has everyone forgotten the statement of the Minister for Finance in the Dáil on 20 June 2001? He justified the setting up of the board by stating:

To get away from the problem of having the Government blamed as having a slush fund it has been decided to establish a board of trustees. This board will distribute the money, subject to guidelines and without the direction from the Government.

Has the Minister of State forgotten this? He conveniently left it out of his speech. All others on the Government side have also forgotten about it. On the last occasion this matter was debated with the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, the Minister of State accused me by saying, in effect, that it was strange to see Opposition speakers praising the Minister for Finance for taking such action. Those were the words expressed by Members on the Government side. They have conveniently forgotten this tonight.

In the preamble to the Bill it is stated the objectives are the same. They are worthy. However, has the Government no confidence in the board to do the work involved? As is clearly indicated and outlined here, it is regarded as being very satisfactory, highly commendable and acceptable to those who have applied to it. The preamble states the objectives underpinning the disbursement of the fund remain unchanged, which is important.

What other four areas could be identified as more worthy of funding than the RAPID and CLÁR programmes, drug abuse in disadvantaged areas and disability services? The problem is we will not be able to rely on the independence of the board in analysing claims from any of those sources without ministerial interference. I am not describing it as Civil Service interference. I am not describing it as anything other than ministerial interference, particularly under the stewardship of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. I will not trust him in having the last say, even though it may be a Cabinet decision. If that is the case, all share the blame on this occasion.

From the record on CLÁR programme funding and how it has been delivered, as referred to by Senator Maurice Hayes, the fund has been raided. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has raided it for the delivery of a prop up measure in respect of what has happened in the community employment schemes which were being wiped out. On his own admission in this House, it took him two years to hatch this one — the rural social scheme. We found it hard to find an example of an application form or the criteria to be applied. Eventually he said the one thing that would be required was a herd number.

This legislation has all the hallmarks of a Government which is panicking. There is a huge surplus in a certain area which has been identified and it wants control over it. It has no confidence whatever in the board. The Minister of State throws out a gratuitous comment that members of the board can be reappointed. The likelihood of this happening — we await final decisions — is unreal. The fact they are now being replaced is a sure indication there has been a vote of no confidence by Ministers in this instance. I fail to see how they would survive and adhere to the demands of Ministers. The Bill is all about the power to control and direct funding in particular areas. Unfortunately, we are back once again to stroke politics where the Government will direct funding in accordance with public representations.

We have been criticised before. I read a letter from the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in which he criticised me for mentioning dormant accounts in a letter I wrote to him. He misrepresented and put a spin on my letter to suit himself and get off the hook as regards his own record on the appropriation of funds under the CLÁR programme. That is not good enough.

We, on this side of the House, will totally oppose this legislation every time it comes before us. We will obstruct it in every way possible in order that the fund will not become the slush fund intended by the Government, in particular, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív.