Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator. The GAA is a typical organisation where the code of voluntary work is at its best and strongest and produces enormous benefits for the community. This is the sort of volunteerism we must try to support and encourage.

The Minister of State did not refer to the difficulty caused to clubs, communities, sporting organisations and small community hall projects with regard to the public liability insurance fund. There are many occasions when people are willing to provide home help, bring elderly people to the local community hall or provide meals and entertainment, but the issue of public liability insurance rears its ugly head. We cannot ignore this issue because it has a negative impact on volunteerism. The public liability issue is part of a wider debate, but it needs to be addressed.

The Minister of State referred to the Charities Bill and I look forward to the debate on that. Funding is an issue for all organisations because so many groups seek funding and some degree of regulation is required in the area. It is to be hoped the Bill will impact positively on voluntary work and volunteerism.

I wish to refer briefly to social insurance contributions. There may be a role for the Minister for Social and Family Affairs in considering much of the work being done on an almost full-time basis by unpaid volunteers, not that they are seeking payment. I commended the Government on its tackling of the issue of the lack of social insurance contributions via a measure introduced to allow for social insurance recognition for people whose spouses. usually wives, remained at home looking after family members or elderly people and who received no PRSI recognition for doing so. The Minister might consider the possibility of having some degree of social insurance recognition for people who are doing voluntary work on an almost full-time basis. As I said, they receive no pay but are doing it from the bottom of their hearts in the most positive way possible. It would be helpful if something could be done in this regard.

We all welcome volunteerism and voluntary work. Sadly, the International Year of Volunteers passed us by without anyone taking any particular notice. To my shame, I am not sure whether it was last year or the previous year. It was not one of the more successful UN international years. Perhaps in this country we should set aside a month every year in which we try to put volunteerism and voluntary workers at the top of our agenda and recognise their contributions.

I wish the Minister will in his endeavours. I do not disagree with anything he said in his speech. However, it is not a question of laws, rules and regulations or prescription, but one of ethos and making an effort to get back a little of what we have lost over the past 20 years. It is about removing a bit of greed from society and replacing it with generosity, goodwill and a philosophy of looking after one's neighbour, which has sadly gone out of fashion but, it is to be hoped, may come back into favour in these lesser economic times.