Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As someone who has spent many years on various boards of charitable organisations during my adult life, I am aware, as I am sure is the Minister, that there are more than 8,000 registered charities in Ireland. Given the news we have about these top-up payments, it is important to state that every member of every board has equal responsibility. It should not come down only to the chairperson, the financial director or controller, or the secretary. Every board member of every charitable organisation has a responsibility. We must ensure that a proper registry of charitable organisations is put in place. I have spoken to the Minister of this and he indicated that it would cost money to do that but we cannot afford to wait any longer given the news that we now know. Every charitable organisation must ensure that it has adequate transparency in its financial dealings, proper accountability, and in the times we are living in there must be proper corporate governance in every charitable organisation in this country. The Irish people deserve nothing less.

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