Charities Regulation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2018

Tuesday, 4 December 2018

Questions (617)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

617. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of reports and-or complaints made to the Charities Regulatory Authority, CRA, regarding the repeal of the eighth amendment; if his attention has been drawn to instances in which the CRA communicated or engaged with charity groups and-or theatre groups to indicate that charity status may be revoked in respect of their activities if they held pro- or anti-choice events (details supplied); the number of reports of potential breaches of the Charities Act 2009 that were followed up with an investigation and upheld as breaches of the Act; the number of reports and-or complaints that were dismissed as no breach had occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50114/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

Section 14 (3) of the Charities Act 2009, provides that the Charities Regulator is independent in the performance of its statutory functions. My Department has no function in investigating potential breaches of the Charities Act, including recording the number of complaints received or correspondence with organisations on the matter of potential breaches of the Act.

The Charities Regulator has a process for the receipt of concerns where it is believed an organisation may be in breach of the Charities Act. Any concerns, including those outlined by the Deputy, should be forwarded to the Charities Regulator, www.charitiesregulator.ie. All concerns received are managed in line with its concerns policy which is publicly available on its website.

I am informed that a breakdown of all concerns received during 2017 is provided in the Compliance Report 2017 which was published in August 2018 and is available on the Charities Regulator’s website.

The Charities Regulator published guidance on “Charities and the Promotion of Political Causes” in February 2018 in order to assist registered charities to remain compliant with their obligations under the Charities Act.