· New Independent Regulator for the charity sector
· Public Register of all Irish Charities to be established
· Charity Regulatory Authority to officially launch in October
Minister for Justice and Equality, Ms. Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., has welcomed the first meeting of the Charities Regulatory Authority which took place today.
The new Authority will operate as an independent regulator for the charity sector and will establish and maintain a new public register of all Irish charities. The Charities Regulatory Authority will be formally established on 16 October 2014 under the terms of the Charities Act of 2009.
Minister Fitzgerald said that the new Authority will play an important role in renewing public confidence in charities.
“I am pleased to welcome the members of the Authority to their new roles. The work of the Authority in the coming months and years will support the rebuilding of trust in our charities. Through their work, charities in Ireland play a vital role in our communities. With the establishment of a dedicated regulatory framework under the Charities Act, they will be supported in this role.”
Minister Fitzgerald continued: “The Authority also has an important responsibility to increase transparency across the charity sector. This is critical to the rebuilding of public confidence in our charities.”
Chairman of the Authority, Mr Conor Woods, Chairperson of Chartered Accountants Ireland Charity Committee, said: “It is an important step to have our first meeting today. The Board is excited about embarking on the road to implementation of the Charities Act 2009, stronger regulation, better transparency, and a clearer framework for compliance reporting for all charities in Ireland. We look forward to the next steps on the journey and to working with the charity sector in Ireland”.
Notes for Editors:
Charities Regulatory Authority
The Charities Regulatory Authority is to be established on 16 October 2014 by Ministerial Order under the Charities Act 2009. The Authority will be independent in the discharge of its functions under the Charities Act. Its functions will be as follows:
(a) increase public trust and confidence in the management and administration of charitable trusts and charitable organisations,
(b) promote compliance by charity trustees with their duties in the control and management of charitable trusts and charitable organisations,
(c) promote the effective use of the property of charitable trusts or charitable organisations,
(d) ensure the accountability of charitable organisations to donors and beneficiaries of charitable gifts, and the public,
(e) promote understanding of the requirement that charitable purposes confer a public benefit,
(f) establish and maintain a register of charitable organisations,
(g) ensure and monitor compliance by charitable organisations with this Act,
(h) carry out investigations in accordance with this Act,
(i) encourage and facilitate the better administration and management of charitable organisations by the provision of information or advice, including in particular by way of issuing (or, as it considers appropriate, approving) guidelines, codes of conduct, and model constitutional documents,
(j) carry on such activities or publish such information (including statistical information) concerning charitable organisations and trusts as it considers appropriate,
(k) provide information (including statistical information) or advice, or make proposals, to the Minister on matters relating to the functions of the Authority.
The Authority will also take on the functions of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland. The temporary website of the Authority is at www.charitiesregulatoryauthority.ie .
Members of the Charity Regulatory Authority
Chairperson Conor Woods, Accountant/Senior Statutory Auditor
Ordinary Members David Brady, Accountant/Advisor to Charity Sector
Katie Cadden, Solicitor, former legal advisor to PRTB
Sandra Chambers, Tax Specialist
Cynthia Clampett,CEO Mayo Roscommon Hospice
Anna Classon, Head of Fundraising RNLI
Tom Costello, Programme Executive, Atlantic Philanthropies
Patricia Cronin, Solicitor, ViceChair Transparency Ireland
Fergus Finlay, Chief Executive, Barnardos
Ann Fitzgerald, Barrister, Board member Cork Simon
Patrick Hopkins, Company Secretary Enterprise Ireland
Hugh Maddock, Organiser/Fundraiser for Rehab Group
Barbara O’Connell, CEO, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland
Graham Richards, Charity Commissioner
Senan Turnbull, Chair, Think Ahead Advisory Committee
Noel Wardick, International Programs-Consultant, CBM Ireland
The Chief Executive Designate of the Authority is Ms. Úna Ní Dhubhghaill. The Authority has an initial staff of eleven, drawn from existing staff of the Department of Justice and Equality and the Office of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland. The temporary website of the Authority is at www.charitiesregulatoryauthority.ie .