Dáil Éireann

Dáil Éireann

Vol. 1007 Wednesday, No. 3 19 May 2021 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 19/05/2021A00100Message from Seanad � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 300 19/05/2021A00300Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 300 19/05/2021A00500Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 301 19/05/2021A00600Charitable and Voluntary Organisations � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 301 19/05/2021B00500Waste Management� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 303 19/05/2021C00450School Meals Programme � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 307 19/05/2021E00200Vacant Properties � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 309 19/05/2021F00700Water and Wastewater Treatment Services: Motion [Private Members] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 313 19/05/2021S00400Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 342 19/05/2021W00400Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 351 19/05/2021Z01500Dáíl (All-Ireland Representation) Bill 2021: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 360 19/05/2021AA00800Ceisteanna - Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 362 19/05/2021AA00900Taoiseach’s Meetings and Engagements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 362 19/05/2021BB00350An Garda Síochána� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 366 19/05/2021DD00800Departmental Bodies � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 370 19/05/2021MM00100Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed)� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 375 19/05/2021BBB00400Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 408 19/05/2021FFF00600Counterfeiting Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 414 19/05/2021GGG00800Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 418 19/05/2021LLL00100Financial Resolution 2021 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 419 19/05/2021LLL00200Financial Resolution: Stamp Duties � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 419 19/05/2021AAAA00200Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 454 19/05/2021GGGG00700Gender Pay Gap Information Bill 2019: Report and Final Stages � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 466 DÁIL ÉIREANN Dé Céadaoin, 19 Bealtaine 2021 Wednesday, 19 May 2021 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 9�10 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 19/05/2021A00100Message from Seanad 19/05/2021A00200An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Seanad Éireann has passed the Criminal Procedure Bill 2021, without amendment 19/05/2021A00300Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters 19/05/2021A00400An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in re- spect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 37 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy John Lahart - to discuss with the Minister for Rural and Community De- velopment the ongoing controversy surrounding the charity Bóthar; (2) Deputy Sean Sherlock - to discuss the need to include a waste waiver for individuals or families with disabilities in the waste action plan for a circular economy; (3) Deputy Ciarán Cannon - to discuss establishing a dedicated online portal to submit evidence of close passing of cyclists to An Garda Síochána; (4) Deputy Brian Stanley - to discuss the current difficulties in accessing the dental treatment services scheme; (5) Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire - to discuss the delays in processing pri- mary medical certificate applications; (6) Deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Rose Conway- Walsh - to discuss amending the defective concrete blocks grant scheme in Mayo and Donegal from 90% funded to a fully funded scheme; (7) Deputy Jennifer Whitmore - to discuss concerns regarding a “Do not consume” water notice in Barndarrig, County Wicklow; (8) Deputy Jenni- fer Carroll MacNeill - to discuss the review of the relationships and sexuality education curricu- lum in primary and secondary schools announced in 2018; (9) Deputy Aindrias Moynihan - to discuss the ongoing backlog of driver tests and driver theory tests; (10) Deputy Martin Browne - to discuss a review of the school transport schemes; (11) Deputy Thomas Gould - to discuss the lack of full-time vacant homes officers across the State; (12) Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin - to discuss the threatened job losses in Baldoyle, which had notification of planned closure of two pharmaceutical plants; and (13) Deputies Paul Murphy and Bríd Smith - to discuss the issue of provision of hot school meals in schools� 300 19 May 2021 The matters raised by Deputies John Lahart, Sean Sherlock, Paul Murphy and Bríd Smith, and Thomas Gould have been selected for discussion� 19/05/2021A00500Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate 19/05/2021A00600Charitable and Voluntary Organisations 19/05/2021A00700Deputy John Lahart: I thank the Minister of State for his attendance� This story is not finished but the catchcry of “Are we there yet?” is one that is very well known to Irish people. Bóthar would be perceived as one of the more earthy charities� It is one to which I have contrib- uted myself over the years because there was always a tangible output, or at least that was the perception� Instead of just sending money, there was a tangible result from the contributions the public made, namely, the charitable contribution of live animals and other agricultural produce and materials to developing countries� The premise on which the charity was founded, and on which it succeeded and caught the public’s imagination, is that Irish people could finance the sending of a cow, a sheep or a goat and that it would make a manifest difference and impact on the lives of local communities in developing countries� We have been here before with charities like Console� We thought that was the end of it, that corruption within the charitable sector was over and would never again be tolerated, that it would be much easier to root out and that charities would be subject to much more intensive interrogation, oversight and regulation. However, we find ourselves back at the same point again, not due to the corporate outlook or objectives of an organisation but because of the greed of a few� The Government must give some response to try to reassure the public� As we know, it is often those with the least who give most and over the years people have donated small, or sometimes significant, amounts to such charities. They did so with the best will in the world, as part of an ethos in this country that goes back to our connection to suffering and hardship and our empathy for those who have to endure the same kind of suffering and hardship. It is a crushing blow to people to discover that when they made that gesture and gave to people in countries less developed and less well off than our own, the organisation mediating those funds had within it corrupt and greedy people who would go to great lengths to corrupt the funds, and to cover their tracks in the process� The issue itself has been well publicised in the newspapers, including the secreting away of significant funds by members of Bóthar and the payment of bonuses to staff. I would like to know what contributions the State made to this charity, whether through the Minister of State’s Department or the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, over the years� I look for- ward to his statement on the matter� 19/05/2021A00800Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development (Deputy Joe O’Brien): I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter� The Charities Regula- tor, under the aegis of my Department, is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with a mandate to promote good governance practices� It is important to note that the regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions, including investigations into the activities and conduct of charities� All registered charities in Ireland and their trustees are subject to the provisions

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