Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 September 2013
162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will compile a list of validly registered charities in accordance with the 2009 Act with particular reference to the continued need to preserve the integrity of the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40079/13]
View answerThe Charities Act 2009 provides for an integrated system of mandatory registration and proportionate regulation and supervision of the charities sector in Ireland. The various sections of the Charities Act are subject to implementation through commencement orders. Sections that it was possible to commence in advance of the establishment of the Charities regulatory Authority, as provided for under the Act, have been commenced. The remainder will be commenced following the establishment of the Authority. One of the functions of the new Authority will be to establish and maintain a public register of charities. It is therefore necessary to establish the new Authority before this register is put in place.
The Deputy will appreciate that the full implementation of the Charities Act, including the establishment of the Authority and register of charities, had to be examined in the context of the comprehensive review of expenditure, which took place in 2011. Arising from this review, I have delayed bringing this legislation into force as we considered how best to achieve the objectives of the Act in a context of Government spending reductions. It has always remained an objective of the Government to strengthen the regulation of the sector in effective and proportionate ways and, to advance this, a public and stakeholder consultation on the implementation of the Charities Act 2009, and the establishment of a register of charities, was carried out by my Department earlier this year and published in July.
Arising from our review of possible options in relation to the regulation of the charities sector and also from the extensive feedback received during the consultation, the Government in July approved my plans to proceed with the establishment of an independent Charities Regulatory Authority under the terms of the 2009 Charities Act. It is envisaged that the new Authority will come into operation in 2014.
