Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill which has been introduced by Deputy Mac Lochlainn and I support its intentions. Including the advancement of human rights in the 2009 Act is an excellent idea, as is setting out a timescale for full implementation of the Act. I also welcome the recent commitment by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, to ensure the regulator will be in place by Easter. In that context, I am surprised and disappointed that the Government would not support this Bill. It seems a very simple, sensible and non-political Bill, which provides a very painless way for the Oireachtas as a whole to demonstrate support for what needs to be done. I am disappointed by the missed opportunity from the Government.

It is clear that we need a regulator in the charities sector, as there are approximately 8,000 registered charities, with approximately €1 billion in public money disbursed every year. As we know, public confidence in the sector is shot because of revelations about top-up payments and severance packages, and charities have been calling for the establishment of a regulator for a very long time. The Oireachtas has failed those charities as it is only now, after five years, that it is implementing something important that has been sought for a long time.

Having consulted people in the sector, there are two issues I want to raise with the Minister, and perhaps he could revert to me about them. We have been told that the chief executive and other staff of the regulator will be found from existing Civil Service resources.

That is being interpreted as allowing hiring only from the Civil Service. Obviously, there are many fine and capable civil servants but there are many others with valuable expertise and experience, including within charities and the private sector, academia and other parts of the public sector, who have a lot to bring to bear in this regard. I ask the Minister to let me know whether civil servants alone are to be allowed join the regulator. If so, why? If it is the case, it would be a major mistake.

The second concern raised is that the charities have been given no guidance as yet on future governance. As the Minister is aware, there is a multitude of voluntary codes in place. Some are Irish and others are from the United Kingdom. The charities want to know how this matter will be dealt with. For example, they are asking whether a single, unified governance code will be imposed on them. They are asking what mandatory, financial and procedural implications this might have. On this point, the Minister might revert to me. I ask the Government to let the sector know as quickly as possible how this will be dealt with by the regulator.

Let me add my voice to those of many Deputies and many in the charities sector in hoping that the disgraceful revelations concerning the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, will not continue to damage the many excellent and well-run charities in the country.

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