Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tonight’s Bill gives all Members an opportunity to address what is wrong with charities in this State. More importantly, it provides the means to bring about reform and to improve the climate that is facing the charity sector. I believe there is general agreement right across the benches in that regard. Since the financial crash, the charity and community sector has faced an avalanche of cuts and the lack of regulation in this area for so long has brought about some high-profile organisations' use and abuse of the private donations they receive. While most organisations do fantastic work, the shocking revelations about some organisations will be extremely damaging to the entire sector. The high wages the chief executive officers of some voluntary organisations have been paying themselves are appalling for most people in Irish society. It seems like an awful and persistent hangover from the so-called Celtic tiger days and has created a grand canyon between donors and those organisations they traditionally supported. This fear, coupled with the poor economic state, means that high-profile and well-run charities are struggling to meet rising demand with falling donations. The greedy actions of a few are a brutal betrayal of all those who donate to an organisation, as well as of those who work in the front-line services that the charity sector provides. The most outraged over these recent scandals are the common man and woman who donate to these organisations or those who work in this sector.

Moreover, many organisations in this sector have been calling for regulation for years, as charities have been unregulated since the foundation of the State. As speakers have stated over the past two nights, the Charities Act 2009, which would create a charities regulatory authority to ensure greater accountability and transparency in the sector, is urgently needed. This Bill before Members would re-introduce the advancement of human rights argued for by the sector but excluded by the Fianna Fáil-led Government when it brought forward the Charities Act 2009. It also specifies a date, namely, 31 May, for the full enforcement and enactment of all provisions of the 2009 Act.

As Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on foreign affairs, I have seen at first hand the life-changing work Irish charities and non-governmental organisations, NGOs, do both on this island and in some of the most impoverished places around the world. Ireland is well known for its commitment to overseas aid and development and has a hard-won badge as a world leader in this sector. This is directly linked to the hard work of the NGOs and charities, as well as through the consistent generous donations of Irish people. The vast majority of these organisations are self-regulating and their commitment to accountability and transparency is due to their own commitment to providing the most effective aid and assistance programmes. For example, in 1993 a selection of Irish NGOs came together to form Dóchas, which provides these NGOs with a forum for consultation and co-operation and helps them to speak with a single voice on development issues. It also helps the NGOs to become more transparent and accountable and works towards ensuring that organisations in this sector follow the highest standards of practice. In fact, Dóchas members are fully compliant with the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice, SORP, standards. While the SORP standards are British regulations and have no jurisdiction outside Britain, many Irish charities have voluntarily adopted them in order to follow respected practices in accounting and reporting and, most particularly, to satisfy their many stakeholders in this regard.

While their voluntary commitment to these practices definitely is to be welcomed, there also must be Government legislation across the charity sector to ensure the highest standards of practices and accountability. Lest Members forget, this is a huge sector, with more than 8,000 charities registered in this State employing more than 100,000 people. Moreover, as other speakers have noted, the sector has an estimated turnover of €5.7 billion a year. Consequently, any regulation needs to be transparent and fit for purpose. It cannot be done on the cheap or because of recent scandals that the Committee of Public Accounts has helped to uncover. The passing of legislation to regulate this sector and the establishment of a charity regulator must be financed, must have actual authority and, most importantly, must have independence.

One reason this sector is so big is because of consecutive Governments' disastrous record in health care, social protection, housing provision, poverty reduction and inequality in Irish society, and the lack of rights-based legislation. Nelson Mandela, who is badly missed, once stated: “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity. It is an act of justice.” It would be well for all Members to reflect on this. They must regulate the charity sector but also must start to meet the basic needs and the realisation of their own citizens. This is the key. People are rightfully angry and many are worn out from trying to access services for loved ones. That debate has been heard in this Chamber many times. They are exhausted from filling out forms to get basic services for their children or family members. I believe the Bill being debated tonight will improve transparency as well as bringing clarity and new thinking to this sector. Most importantly, it will shine a light on those charlatans and parasites who are exploiting the goodwill and generosity of Irish people.

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