Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Feb 1995

Vol. 448 No. 6

Written Answers. - Charity Collections.

Edward Nealon

Question:

192 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to curtail and regulate the number of collections in provincial towns throughout the year for charities; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the system of national permits and local permits can result in two collections being carried out in the same town on the same day, which is resented by many people in spite of the worthy nature of the charities involved; her views on whether in all cases local charities should be given preference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2725/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The law in relation to collection of money from the public by means of collections in the public streets or by collections in the course of house-to-house visits is set out in the Street and House to House Collections Act, 1962.

In 1989, the Minister for Justice appointed a committee "to investigate the adequacy of the existing statutory controls over fund-raising activities for charitable etc. purposes and to make recommendations for any changes considered necessary having regard, in particular, to the need to justify any consequential costs as well as any extra interference with individual freedoms". The committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Declan Costello, reported to the Minister in 1990 recommending, inter alia, that the 1962 Act, and the regulations made thereunder, needed to be amended in a number of ways.

As part of its programme, the Government is committed to reforming the law relating to the administration of charities along the lines recommended by the committee. The recommendations are at present being examined by my Department and any legislative proposals arising out of that examination will be brought forward as quickly as possible.