Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I second the point made by Senator Michael Mullins about the fraud which was discovered in Uganda and ask that the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade should come to the House and discuss that matter. We give ¤600 million in foreign aid. On that day I would like to question the Minister and ask Senators to join me in so doing about what checks, procedures and auditing systems are in place.

Returning to Ireland, the Government gives ¤4 billion to the charity sector. There is no charity regulator in place which means there are no checks and balances. I certainly am not picking on foreign aid but if we want to widen this we must know how our money is being spent.

I am just a parrot today, in my two minutes. I second Senator Feargal Quinn's proposal. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, will be in the House next Tuesday. I implore Senators to take an interest. I might get together with Senator Quinn to send Members a quick memo about the proposals on sick pay, with which we will put many Irish businesses out of business. There is a little bit of kite-flying going on, to the effect that the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, is thinking of pushing her ideas on sick pay onto the private sector. We must not let that happen.