Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Members will be aware that there has been a 40% cent drop in donations to charity in the two weeks since the scandal of top-ups to executives' salaries was revealed. Fundraising Ireland stated recently that this issue has reached crisis point in the sector and charities are taking calls every hour from people seeking to cancel subscriptions. People feel let down, which is understandable.

It is understandable too that this Dáil would seek immediately to address this impasse. I note the concerns of all to try to allow charities to regain their reputation. From time to time, most of us have either fund-raised or involved ourselves in a charity locally. We did so because we witnessed the work done by those same groups that enabled many families to have a better life. This week, amid the debate on the issues around the remuneration of senior executives within the CRC, we were reminded by parents of children who need the clinic and the clients of CRC of the fantastic work and therapy provided at Clontarf. That is the reason we must focus on allowing the work to continue and so that the wonderful staff there can move on and continue to provide their services at the CRC.

According to Fundraising Ireland's CEO, Anne Hannify: "We need a regulator, we need more transparency, and more openness...the public have a right to know where their money is going." People who have donated so generously in the past feel cheated and fooled and the only way forward is the establishment of a charities regulatory authority, CRA. The proposals are now approved by Government. I warmly welcome the fact that the Department of Justice and Equality has been given the green light for the appointment of an interim CEO and for the allocation of a number of staff to the authority. Furthermore, I welcome the commitment by the Minister, Deputy Shatter, to seek expressions of interest in membership of the board of a new authority, which I understand could be up and running later in the summer.

The CRA will provide transparency, accountability and good practice in charity governance and management. That is what the public want and has a right to expect, and will lead to increased donations and voluntary support for the sector. The reason we could not fully introduce the 2009 Act was due to cost implications. However, the commitment by the Minister is very welcome and allows charities to come under the umbrella of checks and scrutiny and will restore the confidence of the general public to part with their hard-earned money and allow vital charities in society to continue to make their valuable contribution. I commend the Minister, Deputy Shatter, for his decisive action with limited resources to set up the authority. I will conclude by urging charities to at all times take the opportunity to display their management and financial affairs through a very clear window for us all to see and understand.

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