Independent Ireland leader says Government must explain why its proposal for independent audits of NGOs was rejected as TDs on the far left rush to defend the sector
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins TD has welcomed Simon Harris’s call for greater scrutiny of public funding provided to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), saying that if the Tánaiste and his Government had listened to Independent Ireland three years ago, taxpayers could potentially have been spared hundreds of millions of euro in expenditure that has never been properly scrutinised.
Deputy Collins said it was remarkable that the very proposal Independent Ireland had put forward to introduce proper audits, transparency and accountability across the NGO sector had been voted down, only for senior Government figures to now acknowledge that the system needs closer examination.
“I’m glad Simon Harris has finally woken up to what we have been saying for years. But where was he three years ago when we were demanding proper audits and accountability for organisations receiving millions of euro in taxpayers’ money?
“Our proposal was dismissed and voted down in a Private Members Bill. Had the Government acted then, we could have saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of euro by identifying waste, duplication, unnecessary expenditure and organisations that were not delivering value for money.
“Every euro of public money must be accounted for. It is not the property of Government ministers, political interests or organisations with access to the corridors of power. It belongs to the taxpayer.”
Deputy Collins said the reaction from Labour leader Ivana Bacik, who has written to Mr Harris demanding that he withdraw his comments, demonstrates precisely why the issue of political influence and accountability within the NGO sector must be examined.
Ms Bacik described the Tánaiste’s remarks as sending a “chilling message to the sector” and accused him of “grossly mischaracterising” the role of NGOs.
Deputy Collins said:
“Instead of welcoming a proper examination of where public money is going, we have politicians on the extreme left rushing to defend the NGO sector at all costs.
“Why are they so uncomfortable with the idea of independent audits? Why should any organisation receiving substantial sums of public money be exempt from proper scrutiny?
“Many NGOs do valuable work and provide essential services. Nobody is disputing that. But we must be honest about the fact that some organisations are also heavily involved in political advocacy, campaigning and attempts to influence public policy.
“When organisations are receiving public funding while simultaneously engaging in political campaigning, taxpayers are entitled to ask legitimate questions about their activities, their political independence and whether public money is being used for the purposes for which it was granted.
“The increasingly defensive reaction from certain political quarters only reinforces the need for transparency. It does not prove wrongdoing, but it certainly makes the case for independent scrutiny even stronger.
“We cannot have a situation where organisations can receive substantial sums from the public purse while politicians who defend them appear more concerned about protecting their independence than protecting the taxpayer’s money.”
Deputy Collins said Ireland needed a comprehensive, independently audited system covering all organisations receiving significant State funding, with full disclosure of funding, expenditure, administration costs, salaries and measurable outcomes.
He added: “Simon Harris is right to say that the responsibility for value for money does not end when the Government writes the cheque. But that principle should never have been in question.
“We need to know exactly where the money goes, what it delivers and whether the taxpayer is getting value for money.
“The days of handing out public money and asking questions afterwards must end.
“Independent Ireland raised this issue when it was politically inconvenient. We were right then and we are right now. The taxpayer deserves answers, not excuses, and certainly not a political lecture from those who want to defend the existing system rather than reform it.”
Recently an Tánaiste said: “We as a state are handing out a lot of taxpayers’ money to external organisations.”
Many of them do incredible work, I get that,” Harris said. “But there have been a couple of warning signs in the last few weeks that say we need to have a much closer look at what’s happening with public money when it goes out to organisations that are not the government.”