Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Thank you, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. It is a very fine project. I agree with what Senator Michael D’Arcy and Senator Walsh - the Wexford Senators - have said but I have one caveat. I know of cases where the terms of benefactions and bequests were altered and the new uses were unacceptable to the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland because they were felt not to accord with the wishes of the donors. One was the change of use a building and the other was the change of an educational endowment for a different purpose.

It is a magnificent gift of 980 acres. It is probably worth about €10 million. Did the Lakin family and the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests of Ireland agree with the change because the point was strongly made in both the Minister’s speech and the notes that were supplied that the land was given exclusively for agricultural purposes? I hope the project goes ahead but it would have to be in accord with the wishes of the donors.

In one of the cases I mentioned, before he was Minister for Finance, the late Brian Lenihan was concerned with an issue as a lawyer which related to the wish to change the terms of a bequest but that was not acceptable to the commission. I say that to make sure we jump that hurdle and it does not arise at a later stage. I support the spirit of the Bill but I am keen that we would check the matter. I thank the Minister. I do not accept Senator Crown’s offer to keep the Minister in the Chamber for ten hours.