John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to over-egg the pudding or delay proceedings any longer than is needed. I appreciate the Minister of State had a long day in the other House. I am heartened at the nature of the discourse and debate and grateful for the positive and constructive contributions put forward by all sides of the House.

Lest there be confusion as to the reason we are here, I thank Ivan Cooper from The Wheel, Hans Zomer from Dóchas, John Gallagher and his colleague Sheila Nordon from ICTR, Kathleen O'Meara from the Irish Cancer Society and Patricia Quinn from the Irish Nonprofits Knowledge Exchange for their constructive contribution to the process and their constant efforts to have the regulatory authority put in place. The charity sector, the Seanad and the Minister are at one on this matter. We are preaching to the converted.

I am heartened by the intent of the response from the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, that a regulatory authority will be established and that we are only discussing the timeframe. We have made a persuasive case that there should be no undue delay. While it has been said that the delay is on cost grounds, I believe that is a false economy. If the Government says we cannot afford to establish the regulatory authority at this juncture, I suggest we cannot afford not to because the sector needs the authority to underpin its good faith and trust with the public.

I thank colleagues for their constructive contributions. The entire burden of establishing the regulatory authority and the regulator's office should not fall on the charitable sector, which is already hard-pressed to make ends meet, raise funds and provide services. It is in the State's interest to ensure we get the best value for money, and therein lies a solution. The regulatory authority could be co-funded, with the State playing its role - in the interests of the taxpayer and of ensuring value for money - by providing some resources to establish the authority. Perhaps the sector could put its best foot forward and through a levy or registration charge co-fund a cost-effective and cost-neutral regulatory authority. It is vital that the charitable and voluntary sector nurture and retain public trust and confidence, because if this is lost, as Senator Harte said, it would be difficult to restore and there would be a slippery slope to cynicism.

Senator Feargal Quinn mentioned the American website Charity Navigator, which states that under international best practice it is possible to achieve a level of administration and salary costs to the tune of 10% of the turnover of the organisation. That is the benchmark we should strive to achieve. In some instances, small as the organisation may be, there is evidence that the cost of administration is significantly higher, perhaps in excess of half of what the organisations spends. That is not acceptable.

I will go off-script to mention an issue that has occurred to me, for which I may not be thanked in some quarters. We make such a play, particularly in the Labour Party, of the need to separate church and State; it is high time political parties stopped conducting church-gate collections. It is hypocritical of them. They should leave that space, particularly at this time, to the charitable and voluntary sector. If one preaches separation of church and State one should practise it.

I thank the Minister of State for her constructive response. I thank my colleagues for their support and I am grateful for the constructive contributions from all sides of the House.