Politicians' Can Do The Right Thing For The Charity Sector.

Sinn Féin bring Charities (Amendment) Bill before Dáil during PMB - Mac Lochlainn

21 January, 2014 - by Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD

Sinn Féin justice spokesperson, Pádraig MacLochlainn TD, introduced the Sinn Féin Charities (Amendment) Bill in the Dáil during Private Members Business. Below is the text of Deputy MacLochlainn's contribution.

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2014

Sinn Féin PMB

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD

21/01/2014

A Ceann Comhairle, Sinn Féin are using our Private Members Business tonight and tomorrow night to debate our recently published Charities (Amendment) Bill 2014.

As most of the members of the house will already be aware, this bill seeks to amend the Charities Act of 2009 by ensuring that all the provisions of that Act are fully enacted by 31st May 2014.

It also seeks to add the ‘advancement of human rights’ on to the definitions of charities eligible to be registered as outlined in the charitable purpose section or Section 3 of the 2009 Act.

I just want to take members briefly through the purpose of the 2009 act before going on to discuss our bill.

The original purpose of the Charities Act 2009 was to reform the law relating to charities. It aimed to ensure greater accountability, offer protection against abuse of charitable status and fraud and also to enhance public trust and confidence in charities and increase transparency in the sector.

The Act provided for the creation of a new charities regulation infrastructure; a Charities Regulator, a Register of Charities, Consultative Panels to advise the Regulator and the Charity Appeals Tribunal and the act laid down, for the first time in primary legislation, a definition of charitable purposes.

The Act meant that organisations, who wished to present themselves to the public as charities, or fundraise directly from the public for charitable purposes, will have to seek and secure inclusion in the new Register of Charities.

What we in Sinn Féin have produced here is a short and simple bill which is of the utmost importance not only to charities but also to the public in what has escalated to a crisis following the CRC scandal.

Our bill seeks to ensure that the 2009 Act is fully implemented once and for all.

Since the foundation of this state charities have been unregulated. The effect of this is that it is now doing untold damage both to the charities themselves but also to all of the vulnerable people who depend on them.

In 2009 Fianna Fáil published this shiny piece of legislation claiming to regulate the Charities sector but never implemented it, thereby failing the charities and public confidence in them.

Labour and Fine Gael have had almost three years to rectify this by fully enacting all the provisions contained within but instead they rested on their laurels, allowing scandal after scandal until it got so big they had no option but to agree to the establishment of a regulatory authority.

I thank the Minister for finally listening to the charities sector and Sinn Féin on this one.

Unfortunately the failure to act on this issue over the years is what has created the scandal we are now witnessing.

The next logical step is to support our motion tomorrow night and ensure that the entire infrastructure arising from the original charities act is fully implemented by May of this year.

Despite the fact that it is welcome and certainly a step in the right direction the establishment of a Charities Regulatory Authority by Easter in isolation is simply not enough.

We need all provisions of this bill enacted and we need it done as soon as is possible.

The most vulnerable in our society are already suffering massively due to the deeply unfair and unjust cutbacks implemented by this government.

The failure to fund many schemes which so many of our most marginalised people depended on has meant that more and more people were relying on charities for their very survival. The scandals which have erupted have, understandably, had a hugely negative effect on public confidence which has led to a dip in donations to charities.

The recent revelations of generous salary top-up payments and gold-plated pensions paid from charitable funds at the Oireachtas PAC Committee hearings are proof that the sector needs regulation urgently.

In a survey by The Wheel it was found that one in five Charities around the country were facing a 10% dip in their donations even before the scandalous revelations about the CRC this week.

Of 150 charities surveyed they found that 53% have suffered a drop in fundraising, 97% believe public trust has been lost and 54% believe the damage may be permanent.

The survey also revealed that one in four have received concerned phone calls or correspondence from donors or members of the public and 14% of volunteers, fundraisers or staff have been subjected to negative or abusive comments.

It was also widely agreed by over 80% that the Government had not done enough to implement the Charities Act 2009.

The second aspect of our bill is regarding the inclusion of the ‘advancement of human rights’ in the definitions under ‘charitable purpose/ Section 3 of the Charities Bill 2009’.

This should never have been left out in 2009 and is seen as a serious omission. In other jurisdictions it is widely accepted that the advancement of human rights is a charitable purpose.

There is also a knock on effect in the failure to include this, for example the principle of equivalence which lies behind the Good Friday Agreement and which has directed much of the legislation in this area is undermined as a result of this omission because as most of you will know, human rights advocacy is afforded charitable status in the North.

Despite the fact that existing human rights NGOs are protected, organisations established in the future to protect human rights will not be afforded charitable status. In addition, existing NGOs will encounter greater difficulties in raising funds because they will not meet the criteria set out in the legislation.

The omission of human rights as a charitable purpose is a systematic and concerted assault on the human rights architecture of this State.

It is clear to us in Sinn Féin that if we hadn’t put this on the agenda now then we may have been waiting until the end of the year or even until 2015 before any moves were made.

As I have already stated, we welcome the Ministers most recent commitment to the establishment of a Charities Regulatory Authority by Easter but we need more. We need the 2009 Act fully implemented to protect Charities and restore public confidence in the sector.

The damage which has been inflicted on this sector is immeasurable and we as legislators need to move quickly to help these charities as soon as possible.

We are calling for all party support tomorrow night on our motion.

Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community

Murky Waters Ahead For The Irish Nation??

Environment Minister Hogan should resign over Irish Water shambles, says Gerry Adams

The Government and Irish Water had hid from consumers the fact that €86million was spent on ‘consultancy costs’ in the set-up of Irish Water

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER Phil Hogan TD should resign over the Irish Water shambles and the Labour/Fine Gael Government reverse its drive to commercialise water, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams TD says.

“Phil Hogan is incompetent,” Gerry Adams told reporters at Leinster House on Wednesday as the Dáil official term resumed.

“He has been involved in too many debacles. Minister Hogan should resign immediately and the Government should abandon its regressive policy on water provision.”

He added:

“By failing to answer repeated questions, from Sinn Féin TDs and others on the costs associated with establishing Irish Water, Minister Hogan and his department have shown contempt for the Dáil, its members and the citizens they represent.”

Gerry Adams’s call came after another shock story that 500 Irish Water staff are entitled to “performance-related” bonuses even though the company has only just been established.

Previously, the Government and Irish Water had hid from consumers the fact that €86million was spent on ‘consultancy costs’ in the set-up of Irish Water.

Irish Water Managing Director John Tierney’s salary of €200,000 does not have a performance-related element.

Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community

Martin McGuinness address to Six County AGM

19 January, 2014 - by Martin McGuinness

Sinn Féin activist yesterday gathered in Guladuff, County Derry for the annual Six County Cuige AGM. The meeting was addressed by deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. In the course of a wide ranging address Mr McGuinness dealt with the ongoing political fallout in the wake of the Haass negotiation.

Mr McGuinness said:

“The Haass Talks were like previous negotiations marked by a willingness by Republicans to take risks, to stretch ourselves and to seek to make agreements which consolidate the Peace Process, bed down further the political institutions and offer hope and opportunity for all citizens, particularly our young people.

It is a matter of regret that political unionism did not come to the table with the same objectives or intent. I believe not only was this a mistake, it is a disservice not just to the political process but more importantly to the vast majority of people from whatever background or tradition they come from.

I believe strongly that ordinary unionists want to see their political leaders make agreements. They want to see their political leaders reach compromises. They want to see their political leaders be peace makers.

Unfortunately over the past 12 months it is the tiny minority have shouted the loudest; who have thrown the most stones and petrol bombs; who have blocked the most roads have been the ones allowed to influence the political direction of unionism instead of the silent majority who seek peace with their neighbours and an Assembly and Executive delivering for them and their children.

Despite this I am proud of the fact that despite the provocations, despite the negativity and the deliberate attempts to derail the efforts, Republicans were able to respond with generosity and with a total desire to see progress made. That was evidenced by the decision of the Ard Chomhairle last weekend to endorse the Haass package as the basis for moving forward. The five political parties, supported by the Irish and British governments now need to make this happen.

The final Haass document is a compromise. It is not a Republican script. How would it ever be, it was the product of negotiations involving five parties. One party leader Mike Nesbitt claimed before the end of the talks that he was 80 or 90% content with the text. Well I have some advice for Mr Nesbitt as someone who is new to these sorts of negotiations from someone who has been around them all – if you have 80 or 90% of what you want in a negotiation – close the deal!!

I note that Peter Robinson has responded in the media to my interview on the View on Thursday evening. Suffice to say this. There has been a leadership deficit within some sections of political unionism for a long time. There is very important work to do to give all our people the society they deserve. That is the responsibility of every party not some.

Peter says I have a visceral hatred of the Orange Order. This is not true. I want to see the Orange treating its catholic neighbours with respect. I want to see it upholding law and order. I respect the Loyal Orders right to march. They do that without incident in my city. That is what should happen everywhere. I am happy to meet the Orange at any time and discuss these matters. Orange is one of our country's national colours. The Orange Order of Ireland is one of our national traditions. I want all our traditions to live together in peace and respect and with tolerance from everyone for everyone.

I have to say I am frustrated at the failure of political unionism to so far take that leap into a better future. The issues involved in the Haass Talks are not going away. They need resolved. It is simply not tolerable to allow these matters to hold back progress and even worse contaminate the daily business of trying to deliver for citizens who want to see welfare, education, health and other issues to the fore, not those we have spent so much time on over the past 12 months.

But to your credit as activists and members of Sinn Féin you have not allowed the issues around flags or parades to deflect you from our job – to build our party, to advance our struggle and to create the political conditions within which Irish reunification will happen.”

Sinn Féin Mountmellick - Serving The Community 

Study To Investigate Honey Bees "Colony Collapse Disorder"

5,000 bees chilled, shaved and microchipped in Australian study to prevent killer diseases

RT January 17, 2014 14:23

Australian scientists have attached small sensors onto thousands of honey bees to monitor their movements in a study aimed at stopping the spread of the illnesses that wiped out entire bee populations in the northern hemisphere.

The microchips, weighing about 5 milligrams and measuring 2.5 square millimeters, are glued to the bees after scientists at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Tasmania soothe the insects to sleep at 5 degrees Celsius.

Some young bees tend to be hairier than the older ones, so they are shaved.

A total of 5,000 bees will be included in the study, which is taking place over the Australian summer.

The study could help deal with the so-called colony collapse disorder, a situation where bees mysteriously disappear from hives, and the encroachment of the parasitic varroa mite, the researchers say.

Since 2006, CCD has caused the devastation of an estimated 10 million beehives at an average value of $200 each, according to the May report by the US Department of Agriculture, mainly due to the use of pesticides.

The experiment will also give farmers and fruit growers a chance to manage their crops better, as it will study the bee’s role in pollination, CSIRO said in a statement.

"Using this technology, we aim to understand the bee's relationship with its environment," research project leader Paulo de Souza said.

The radio frequency identification sensors work like an electronic tag for cars on a toll road, recording when insects pass a checkpoint, and that will allow researchers to construct a 3D image of the insects' movements, a process described as "swarm sensing," Reuters reported.

The scientists are also working on diminishing the sensor to 1 square millimeter, so they can be glued to smaller insects, such as mosquitoes.

“This will be the largest study ever done of this kind, given that there will be 5,000 sensors. Two months is quite a long time to be studying them, too,” De Souza told The Guardian newspaper.

Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community

Irish Citizens Labour To Believe Labour Party Waffle

Prendergast cannot have it both ways on EirGrid – Ní Riada

15 January, 2014 - by Liadh Ní Riada (EU candidate) 

Sinn Féin’s EU candidate for the constituency of Ireland South, Liadh Ní Riada, has stated that Labour party Mep, Phil Prendergast, cannot have it both ways on EirGrid.

Ms Ní Riada was responding to comments made by Prendergast in which she likened the building of pylons to the “rape of the countryside”.

She also voiced her strong concerns regarding health risks associated with pylons.

Ní Riada said:

“I appreciate the Labour Party MEP’s concerns even if her language was designed to grab headlines. However, Phil Prendergast cannot have it both ways on EirGrid.

“She is a member of a government party that is pushing these pylons on the people of rural Munster and South Leinster. Perhaps she should be challenging her own party colleagues regarding their stance on EirGrid rather than seeking headlines.

“Pat Rabbitte has been the main government cheerleader for the EirGrid proposal.

“Minister Rabbitte said, as far as he is concerned, that there were no health concerns regarding the building of pylons. He added that a national agency of government, such as EirGrid, has no vested interest in exposing people to risk.

“This directly contradicts what Health Minister Dr James Reilly said about the issue.

“Expert reports have conclusively shown that high voltage energy lines increase the risk of cancer, particularly for children.

“Nobody trusts Minister Rabbitte on this or any issue given his comments on TV when he said that Labour deliberately told lies during the last election.

“The bottom-line is that Phil Prendergast cannot have it both ways on what is a very serious matter for people in affected communities. It is the height of hypocrisy for her to come out with such statements while failing to challenge her colleagues and party leadership on the matter in any meaningful way.

“She is the part of an organisation that bears a weight of responsibility for all of this. She is at best complicit.

“If she has no confidence in Minister Rabbitte then she should say so. However, if the Minister is misleading people, deliberately or as result of ignorance, he should resign.”

Sinn Féin Mountmellick – Serving The Community