Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

I wish to join with Senators O'Donnell and Conway in calling for a debate on charities. I recently did some work on certain methods that are being used by charities, including "chugging". I do not know whether Members are familiar with the method but it is basically where people accost members of the public on the street and try to get them to give their bank details so that money can be transferred monthly by direct debit. This falls into the same areas mentioned by other speakers in that it needs to be regulated. Given that charities are doing it, people may feel they should not speak out against such methods, but charities are run like businesses. As Senator Conway said, some of the directors and other senior employees in charities are earning huge sums of money. We need to stand up to charities and ensure that they are properly regulated. I call on the Leader to have a general debate on charities as soon as possible.