Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I am grateful to Senators Ormonde and Leyden for sharing their time with me. Since they got hassled somewhat, perhaps the Leas-Chathaoirleach might consider giving me a minute or two of injury time.

I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate him not only on this budget but on his stewardship of the economy in recent years, which has provided stability and certainty for business and others and an environment in which growth can take place. That is a wonderful achievement.

I want to deal with the small print in the Bill, especially section 20. I congratulate the Minister on making it possible for people to make donations to charity by way of securities and so on as well as money. That will be hugely important to universities and others but it raises the point of the need for governance in the field of charities. I hope the Minister will give some impetus as a result of this measure to the emergence of a charities Bill, which would provide for transparency and accountability in the provision of accounts by way of a registrar of charities or some sort of control in that field. The responsible bodies are anxious that such a measure would be brought forward. I congratulate the Minister on behalf of the voluntary charities and institutions with which I am involved. It is a courageous and forward-looking measure, as is section 23 providing for the protection of the national heritage.