Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

I move amendment No. 14:

In page 29, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following:

"(a) by inserting the following subsection in section 207:

"(4A) A charity—

(a) shall submit a copy of its annual report and accounts to the Revenue Commissioners within six months of the end of its account year, which shall be for a period not exceeding twelve months,

(b) shall publish their accounts and annual report in a public place or on the approved body's website within four months of the end of its account year,

(c) shall provide the Revenue Commissioners with a statement confirming compliance with paragraph (b) signed by the treasurer, trustee or any duly authorised agent.",

(b) by inserting the following in section 847A:

"(13A) Every approved sports body—

(a) shall deliver to the Minister and the Revenue Commissioners within six months of the end of its account year, which shall be for a period not exceeding twelve months, a return containing particulars of the aggregate amount of the relevant donations received by the body in respect of the approved project,

(b) shall publish a copy of this return in a public place or on the approved body's website within four months of the end of its account year,

(c) shall provide the Minister and the Revenue Commissioners with a statement confirming that the relevant donations received by the body in respect of the approved project were expended on the approved project only. This statement will be signed by the treasurer, trustee or any duly authorised agent.".".

The purpose of this amendment is to amend sections 207, 208 and 235, together with section 847A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The Revenue Commissioners publish lists of bodies whose income is exempt. Under the first section there are charity bodies whose income is exempt and under the latter there are sporting bodies whose income is exempt. Some of these publish their accounts very clearly but they are not submitted to the Revenue Commissioners unless requested. I accept that some are very transparent. The purpose of this amendment is to require that all such bodies make public their accounts. Examples of how to do this are provided by organisations such as Concern and the GAA. The amendment also requires them to submit their accounts and annual report to the Revenue Commissioners within six months of the end of the financial year. That is a reasonable request. The amendment also deals with the tax relief available on donations to approved projects by sporting bodies and charities. Previously, such relief on donations was restricted to Third World bodies. However, that is no longer the case as the list has been extended in respect of approved charities and capital projects for sporting purposes. The intention of the amendment is to ensure there is an obligation to publish a separate analysis of the money received under the donation schemes in respect of sport schemes, as in respect of specific capital schemes.

I anticipate that the Minister may say that some of this is already provided for in the charities legislation. However, as I understand it, the charities legislation in this regard has not been invoked and there is no indication this will happen. The purpose of this amendment is to pick up on this area in the interim.

See this speech in context