Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

Once it is published I hope we can make a great deal of progress on it. I and everybody in the unit are committed to getting this done as quickly as possible. I hope the estimate I gave is accurate but delays are possible. We are following the programme for Government. At various times the charities issue came under the remit of the Department of Social and Family Affairs and subsequently the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Since 2002 it has come under the jurisdiction of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The UN or international aspect of the legislation is new. Terrorist links in recent years have given rise to a greater need for legislation and the creation of a proper regulatory regime, but it was already a commitment in the programme for Government. I do not know what is going on at present. I believe most charities operate for the public good but anything could be going wrong and until we have proper registration and regulation, we will not know the situation. That is the purpose of enacting the legislation. What has happened in recent years at United Nations level and with the European Union also getting involved gives added weight to the need for us to have updated legislation.

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