There are calls for the Charities Regulator to be given extra powers in the wake of allegations of bad governance at Console.

It's reported that Console's founder Paul Kelly, his wife and son Tim spent hundreds of thousands of euro on groceries, designer clothes and trips abroad.

There's also some confusion about whether the Kellys have resigned, although the charity's board says they are no longer involved with Console.

Ivan Cooper from charity representative body, The Wheel, told the Last Word that draft laws would greatly enhance the Regulator's powers;

The HSE's preliminary audit into Console has raised serious issues for the charity sector as a whole - according to one of the pair tasked with reviewing governance practices there.

The HSE found that Console founder Paul Kelly and his family ran up credit card bills of almost half a million euro - while drawing down salaries of the same amount between 2012 and 2014.

Service users are being reassured that Console will continue to offer counselling and the phone line remains available.

Juliette Gash reports;