Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate colleagues who took part in the Oireachtas fashion show in aid of motor neuron disease last night. Senators Trevor Ó Clochartaigh and Eamonn Coghlan, as well as all the ladies, looked fabulous. Senator Hildegarde Naughton even gave us a bar of a song. It was a great night for a very worthy cause. Well done to all.

Will the Leader arrange a debate on the sections of the Charities Act that have not yet been implemented, including the provisions relating to the establishment of a charities register? Such a register is needed and should be funded from the charity sector itself. Every time people put a euro into a bucket, buy a line or donate clothes, they are handing over something they have worked hard to obtain. The public would like to see the charity sector properly regulated in this country. There are many organisations doing phenomenal work on a shoestring budget but there are others, unfortunately, that are less noble in how they go about their business.

In order to safeguard the status of charities that do their business properly in guarding and protecting the moneys they receive to ensure it goes to the people who need it, there must be a properly regulated charities sector. The legislation is in place and only needs to be implemented. A debate on the charities sector would allow us to discuss on the floor of the Seanad the good work that is being done by so many charities and expose those which are less honourable in conducting their business.