Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I wish to speak on amendment No. 31 which seeks to insert a new subsection. The amendment states, "Where the liability of any charitable trustees of a charitable organisation falls to be considered in respect of any non-compliance with a requirement imposed by a statutory authority, due regard shall be had to whether the resources of the charity as appearing on its books of account under this section were such as to enable the charity to comply with that requirement." As Senator Buttimer mentioned, we have all been contacted by various housing associations, including Respond which suggested liability should be limited where the charity has no funds to comply with the requirements imposed. No one is seeking absolute immunity, but we seek to achieve a balance with which both sides can live.