Mr. Conor Woods:

They are not registered anywhere in that a charities register does not yet exist. We are building this register for the first time but the Revenue Commissioners have a record of all charities with tax exempt status. That is the best yardstick at present. With the register, which is a key element of the Act, we are building a proper record of charities for the first time in this country so that information is available to us, as regulators, and to the public on the standing of charities and details about their trustees, their premises and their activities. It will give clarity to the public, which is a key issue for us, on the identity of registered charities.