Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the fact that Ireland has exited the bailout. Many positive things have been said in recent days in the media, both nationally and internationally. However, like Senator Cullinane, I recognise there certainly are significant levels of poverty and the only thing that will seriously dent that will be the creation of badly-needed employment in parts of the country that are significantly hit by unemployment levels. I hope that early in the new year, a further discussion will be held in this Chamber on job creation and on the Action Plan for Jobs 2014 because that is the tide that will lift all boats. The creation of employment, particularly for those who are long-term unemployed, is the answer to solving the poverty crisis in which many people find themselves.

I support Senator Hayden's call for an early debate with the Minister for Justice and Equality on the charities regulator. I, too, am deeply concerned about the great damage that has been done to the charity sector by the bad publicity generated by the CRC revelations. As a result, many organisations will experience a crisis early in the New Year and will be left unable to provide the services that they have diligently provided over the years. The level of greed that existed in the CRC is appalling and will deprive many people, the most vulnerable in our society, of a service to which they have grown accustomed. Early in the new year the Oireachtas must see what it can do, on an all-party basis, to rescue the sector in order to restore people's confidence in the organisations. Many charitable organisations are ran well and account for every penny collected. It is sad and appalling that a small handful of people can inflict so much damage on organisations who work in the best of interests of the most vulnerable.