Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The charities regulator has no role in investigating fraud nor has it any competence to carry out that type of investigation. However, in respect of the behaviour of charities, once a complaint is made to the authority, it will carry out an investigation and, where appropriate, involve other bodies, whether that is the Garda or the Office of the Director Enforcement.

However, we now have the Charities Regulatory Authority in place, and that is to reassure the public that if they have concerns about charities, they can report them to the regulator. I have no doubt that given the seriousness of this issue, the huge public interest and the confidence issues at stake, it will carry out its part of this investigation in a speedy manner.

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