Vol. 486 No. 1
765 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform whether he will continue to act as the regulator of charities in the State; the plans, if any, he has to devolve this responsibility to a designated Charities Registrar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1539/98]
771 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will produce, during the lifetime of this Government, a publicly accessible listing or schedules of such bodies which are recognised by various agencies of the State as having charitable status or as being essentially charitable in nature, particularly in view of the initiative of the Department of Finance in granting tax relief to companies who make donations to these bodies in the period from April 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1545/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 765 and 771 together.
At present the Commissioners for Charitable Donations and Bequests consider applications under the Charities Acts, 1961 and 1973 from Trustees, or bodies of persons formed for charitable purposes, on the basis of: the relief of poverty; the advancement of education; the advancement of religion; and other purposes of a charitable nature beneficial to the community. The last category covers objects such as relief of illness and disability, the provision of welfare services, the advancement of knowledge etc. The commissioners' attitude is to do what is equitable in the circumstances of each case.
The Deputy will be aware that I have included in my legislative programme the reform of the law relating to administration and regulation of charities along the lines of the report of the committee on fundraising activities for charitable and other purposes, the Costello report, and the subsequent report of the advisory group on charities/fundraising legislation. Both reports include recommendations relating to the regulation of charities and the establishment of a registration authority. The Costello report's recommendations also include the establishment of an index of registered fundraising organisations which would be open to public inspection.
While it is not possible at this stage to indicate with any accuracy when the text of the general scheme of a Bill might be ready for submission to Government, work will proceed as quickly as possible in the light of other legislative priorities.
The issue of the categorisation of bodies as charitable for the purposes of tax relief is a matter for the Minister for Finance.
