Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with what Senator O'Neill had to say about the inappropriate behaviour of the proprietor or manager of a nightclub. Conditions in this regard should be written into the terms of licences when that type of work is going on.

I appreciate that we will have a debate on housing later this afternoon, but it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the announcement regarding bank borrowers that has been made by AIB today. It has said it intends to try to write off some of the mortgages of people who can afford them.

I would like to draw the attention of the House to the announcement made yesterday or the day before by the Minister, Deputy Shatter, regarding the changes he intends to make to the court poor box system. The system in question, which has been in operation since before the foundation of this State, operates at the discretion of judges. In 2012, over €2 million was allocated to various charities at the discretion of judges. The Law Reform Commission recommended in 2005 that this system should be placed on a statutory basis. It has taken nine years for that to happen. Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness has made the same recommendation.

The Law Reform Commission recommended it. It is a good fund but it is necessary for it to be put on a statutory basis. I am asking the Leader to arrange a debate on it because one of the recommendations in 2005 was that a committee be set up to advise on how this fund is operated. It is necessary and very many good charities have benefited from it although retired Mrs. Justice Catherine McGuinness said some of them were questionable. A committee should be set up, as was recommended by the Law Reform Commission. I compliment the Minister for Justice and Equality for putting it on a statutory basis but I do not want to see it go into a central administrative fund and be added on to the lottery or something like that because it is a good fund. People are kept out of prison and will not have a criminal record. Their rights are protected.