John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

On a general point, I reiterate that the purpose of the legislation is to support charities. However, the Government also acknowledges that the legislation regulates an area that has not previously been regulated. We have all referred to bogus and rogue operations which may or may not be charitable. If the legislation is to be effective in this regard, it must include provisions to deal with such bodies. Without dwelling on the issue in detail, removal from the register is not the only sanction available in the legislation. If less important issues arise with regard to charities, section 67 makes intermediate sanctions available.

On a previous point about allowing the authority a longer period to access information, the purpose of virtually all the provisions of the legislation is to assist the authority in dealing with charities in an equitable and fair manner, as opposed to striking them out or making life difficult for them. Nevertheless, the authority must have available to it the sanction of striking off a charity in the event that it is engaging in criminal activity or a criminal conviction is secured. However, striking out charities will not be the norm and intermediate steps are available for other breaches.

See this speech in context