Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Norris's call for regulation and legislation of charities in view of the alleged misappropriation of funds from the Christina Noble Foundation. Various reports in 1990, 1996 and 2002 indicated the urgent need for regulation and legislation for 6,500 registered charities. Allegations of such a significant misappropriation of funds indicate an urgent need for control in this area.

It is regrettable that the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, who has responsibility for this area, responded to this issue by saying it required major legislation which will not be ready till 2006 at the earliest. That is not good enough. Will the Leader request that the Minister of State reconsider that to protect the confidence of the generous public in charities?

On a related matter, it is unacceptable that in rural towns, particularly on Fridays, pensioners who go to post offices and banks are intimidated by people collecting for charity. Nobody knows whether these are legitimate registered charities or whether the people do this for personal gain. This is an urgent matter and I ask the Leader to request the Minister of State to take immediate action on this phenomenon in rural towns.