Before  Christmas Down Syndrome Centre were delighted to be picked as Paddy Power Bookmakers chosen charity when they launched a new initiative where they pledged to donate €1,000 to Down Syndrome Centre each time “the F word” is used by TD’s in the Dáil during 2010.

The idea was sparked by the recent outpouring of “unparliamentary language" by Green Party backbencher Paul Gogarty during a heated discussion on social welfare cuts.

Generous Paddy agreed to backdate the initiative to 01 December and  donated €2,000 to the Down Syndrome Centre in light of Mr Gogarty’s recent indiscretions.

Down Syndrome Centre's Fundraising and Development Co-ordinator, Jennifer Whyte and Paddy Power himself were outside Dáil Eireann to launch the "Swear Box" initiative and were sportingly joined by Minister Conor Lenihan TD and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael Richard Bruton TD both of whom made a token donation into a giant swear box.

Paddy Power said “We’re certainly not encouraging the use of bad language in the Dáil but if the red mist descends and the profanities slip, at least some good will come out of it!”