Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This set of amendments was submitted with the intention of permitting charitable organisations to participate and open their advocacy activities to scrutiny without unnecessary and unfair penalty. The Minister is aware that charitable organisations have been most anxious to be captured within this Bill. They see it not least as part of rebuilding public confidence in charitable organisations.

As the Minister knows, the sector had initially received advice from the Revenue Commissioners to the effect that if they or their staff register, as appeared to be the intent of the Bill, by law, in the absence of a disclaimer or any other clause indicating a distinction or other express authorisation, this could be considered lobbying activity and would jeopardise their charitable status. We discussed the matter in some detail on Committee Stage.

I want to advise the Minister that I will be withdrawing all of these amendments in light of advice received by the Minister which was shared with members of the Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform subsequent to the Committee Stage debate. The legal advice received by the Minister and his officials is that this Bill in its provisions as they stand will not have an adverse effect on the status of the charities. The sector is more than satisfied with that clarification, and I thank the Minister for it. I will be withdrawing the amendments.

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