Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 4

Written Answers. - Charitable Organisations.

John Gormley

Ceist:

261 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundaising Legislation that registered bodies will be authorised and cleared to fundraise, organisations will obtain tax exemption status from the Revenue Commissioners and the process will be dealt with through one application to the fundraising registration authority who will register the body, thereby granting it the power to fundraise, and will then, if requested, pass on the relevant details to the Revenue Commissioners for a determination on the tax exemption status and, if the Revenue Commissioners propose to refuse tax exemption status, they will be required to consult with the advisory board of the registration authority before a final determination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23170/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

262 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the proposed registration authority should operate along the lines of the companies registration office as a separate body under his aegis, that decisions in connection with applications for registration should be made by the registrar, that there should be an advisory board composed, for example, of representatives of the voluntary sector, a lawyer, an accountant and a representative of the Minister to provide advice or information on policy issues and from some members would constitute an appeal board where necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23171/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

263 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the onus should be on the registered organisation to show that the fundraising is for a specific purpose, the proceeds have been used for that purpose and the registration authority should monitor that the money has been used as intended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23172/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

264 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that an individual or local group running a cake sale and so on or inviting sponsorship for an event in the name of a fundraising body should not be obliged to register with the authority but should be required to obtain written authorisation from the receiving organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23173/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

265 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that organisations which solicit funds from the public sector, fundraise in a place to which the public have free access and apply to public funded agencies should be obliged to apply for registration, including in their application a statement of the aims and objectives of the organisation or a copy of the memorandum and articles of association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23174/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

266 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that registration should be administered by a fundraising registration authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23175/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

267 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that all organisations, except those organisations which are governed by the proposed Electoral Act, which solicit funds from the public and from funding agencies should be obliged to register and that there should be a prohibition against fund-raising by non-registered organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23176/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

268 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that organisations with income over a specified level should be required to have audited accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23177/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

269 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that all registered groups should be required to keep proper accounts including accounting records and an end of year statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23178/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

270 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the Minister should be empowered to bring in a Statutory Instrument which would require a standard of accounting and that the registration authority should deal with the details of the accounting required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23179/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

271 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the registration authority should make decisions in respect of collectors badges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23180/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

272 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the registration authority should have the power to appoint field officers who should have specific implementable powers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23181/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

273 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the registration authority should have the power to grant permits for very frequent or regular collections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23182/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

274 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that all collection boxes should be sealed and remain unopened until received by the voluntary organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23183/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

275 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that permits for local collections should be provided by the chief superintendent of the local division and permit for national collections provided by the registration authority, an application for the latter having been made six months in advance and the registration authority would make decisions in relation to national collection days and supply a list of same to the Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23184/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

276 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the overall monitoring system should be the responsibility of the registration authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23185/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

277 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the gross proceeds of fund-raising should always go directly to the fundraising body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23186/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

278 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that there should be no prescribed limit on expenses in regard to occasional lotteries but full disclosure in the accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23187/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

279 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the cap on prize funds in relation to occasional lotteries should be removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23188/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

280 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that all applications for nationwide periodical licences should be made in a prescribed format to the registration authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23189/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

281 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the registration authority should be empowered to prescribe the detail of regulations governing the sale of chances on the street in relation to occasional lotteries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23190/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

282 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the registration authority should have the power to prescribe the details of the form of tickets, line selling and so on in regard to occasional lotteries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23191/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

283 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation in regard to occasional lotteries that there should not be prescribed limit on expenses but there should be full disclosure in the accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23192/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

284 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the advisory group accept the recommendations of the Costello committee in regard to private lotteries except that the limit for prize funds should be raised substantially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23193/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

285 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that collectors should have clear visible identification showing distinctly whether they are voluntary or professional;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23194/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

286 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the advisory group consider that supervision and investigation are operational matters for decision by the registration authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23195/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

287 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation in regard to professional fund raisers that all accounts furnished and contracts entered into should be open to public inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23196/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

288 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to implement the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the question of whether independent professional fundraisers should be required to furnish accounts within a certain time after the termination of the promotion is a matter for the authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23197/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

289 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has, if any, to implement the following recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that all moneys received by an independent professional fund-raiser should be paid to the fundraising body before the deduction of any remuneration or expenses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23198/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

290 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has, if any, to implement the following recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that contracts between independent professional fundraisers and charitable organisations should be in writing, contain certain particulars to be prescribed and be registered with the authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23199/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

291 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has, if any, to implement the following recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the question of a fixed deposit in relation to professional fundraisers should also be dealt with by the registration authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23200/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

292 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has, if any, to implement the following recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the possible issue of a preregistration certificate for professional fundraisers is more appropriately a matter for the registration authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23201/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

293 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has, if any, to implement the following recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that children under the age of 14 should not receive a monetary reward for fundraising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23202/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

294 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has, if any, to implement the following recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the registration authority should have investigative powers in respect of telethons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23203/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

295 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has, if any, to implement the following recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that telethon organisers should be obliged to register a scheme, in a prescribed format, with the fundraising registration authority and return accounts and records to the authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23204/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

296 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has, if any, to implement the following recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that the regulations for the running of lotteries should be the responsibility of the registration authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23205/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

297 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has, if any, to implement the following recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that charities should not have to pay irrecoverable VAT; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23206/98]

John Gormley

Ceist:

298 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has, if any, to implement the following recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Charities and Fundraising Legislation that tax deduction for charitable fundraising should be looked at favourably; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23207/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 298 inclusive, together.

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 606 to 637, inclusive, on Tuesday 3 November 1998. I have nothing further to add to that reply.