John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support what Senator Mary Ann O'Brien said on the urgent need to expedite the establishment of the charities regulatory office. The Leader responded comprehensively on this question yesterday, but I was astonished to hear that it will take until autumn 2014 for the office to become operational. The Act to establish the office was passed in 2009. There are 8,400 registered charities and, as Senator Mary Ann O'Brien said, they have access to between €6 billion and €7 billion per annum, which is half the budget of the Department of Health. I do not believe the public will wait another year for this issue to be addressed. People have been out over the weekend in atrocious weather conditions collecting for good causes and charities that desperately need the funds, yet the regulation issue remains unaddressed. We must revisit this matter because it must be expedited.

I reiterate a request that Senator John Kelly and I put to the Leader last week. It was declined, in good faith I am sure. However, I again appeal to the Leader to arrange for a debate in the Seanad early in the new year on the new wind turbine and wind farm planning regulations.