Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I am doing my best. I thank the Acting Chairman for his indulgence. I will conclude on this. Charities which have human rights at the core of their mission would greatly like to see an amendment such as this made, but it has not been. They would have difficulty in any event accessing funding in the present economic climate, but now they will be at a disadvantage vis-À-vis their British and European counterparts. Who then will be able to promote human rights? The Government has culled many of the agencies promoting human rights.

The Fine Gael Party welcomes the broad principle of the Bill and we support the amendment before the House. I acknowledge that while some of the issues we raised have been addressed in the scope of the legislation, I am disappointed some have been omitted. I welcome the broad thrust of the Bill as it should prove beneficial to the sector. I welcome the provision to revisit the legislation. I hope we do so in the areas of human rights and sport.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, and his officials. At a time when public servants get much rebuke and bad press, his officials have been courteous, efficient and diligent. I wish that Government could learn from the Minister of State and his Department's officials how to listen to us. I wished the Department had listened on the other two issues but there was a great sense of camaraderie in the way the officials dealt with us and I thank them for that. It is important that we thank the public servants who get a raw deal in many cases. In this case, his officials were forthcoming.

I hope that when we revisit the legislation we will include human rights organisations and sporting organisations. We support the amendment before us.