Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his amendment because this provision exercised many charities. I pay tribute to the Irish Cancer Society and other charitable organisations that raised the issue with us and put forward practical solutions. I will withdraw my amendment on the basis that the rationale behind the Minister of State's amendment is to eliminate the difficulty that would have arisen had the Bill not been amended.

However, by being prescriptive, the Minister of State had posed a problem for charitable collections. It was not his intention but it would have been a major disservice to charities if an amendment was not made. The operation of such collections has changed. A few years ago, following the broadcast of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" on television, charities launched "Who Wants to be a Thousandaire". Daffodil Day is one of the best organised charity events nationally. We all readily subscribe to this cause and its emblem. For example, earlier this week there was a holly day for the ISPCC. It is important to move away from the concept of floats. While I would have preferred the Minister of State to accept our amendment, I will not press it.