Results 5,321-5,340 of 15,805 for speaker:Michael Ring
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: The Minister of State is indicating banks and those bringing money into the country will be at a disadvantage if the amendment is not introduced. In what way would it affect the banks and how would the money be brought into the country? I do not understand why it is necessary to bring in the amendment. In what way can money be illegally brought to the country?
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: I understand the penalties on summary conviction for those who break the law are 12 months in prison, a fine of â¬5,000 or both. The Minister of State and I both know that no judge will want to send someone to jail for 12 months when it might be more effective to pay a fine. I propose the fine amount should be increased from â¬5,000 to â¬10,000, as judges will not be inclined to send...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: I thank the Minister of State.
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: I move amendment No. 25: In page 14, to delete lines 18 to 41 and in page 15, to delete lines 1 to 7 and substitute the following: "(a) to establish and maintain a register of charitable organisations, (b) to encourage, facilitate and monitor compliance by charities with the provisions of this Act, including by way of issuing (or as it considers appropriate approving) guidelines, codes of...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: I appeal to the Minister to be wary of putting too many regulators in place. People are concerned about the appointment of regulators with no powers and who are not answerable to the House. That is the one thing that concerns me. I had great difficulty convincing my party that we need another regulator because we are opposed to having too many regulators. I urge the Minister even at this...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: I support the amendment. People in this country are very decent and honourable and they look out for their neighbours. I have seen that in my constituency when serious tragedies occurred in the past. Collections were made when, for one reason or another, the State was unable to do the job it was required to do. I agree with the thrust of the amendment. On Committee Stage we made a strong...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: We spoke strongly about this matter on Committee Stage. I thought we were given a commitment by the Government that the regulator would be paid for by the State and that under no circumstances would charities pay for the regulator or his or her staff; the State would pick up the tab. I would be disappointed if that were not the case. Charities are doing a job the State is not doing and we...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: We do not want it to be like the planning process, whereby the planning authority seeks further information on the day planning permission is expected to be granted. We want people to be dealt with in a reasonable time once information is submitted. When an application is received by the regulator, necessary information should be sought within a very short period rather than at the end of...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: We cannot disagree with what the Minister of State is saying but we wanted to ensure that only genuine charities are registered. We do not want people to use a loophole in the law to avoid tax or collect money under false pretences. I welcome and support the provision in this regard. I am concerned about the two month timeframe. There must be rules and regulations and charities should not...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: They are technical amendments and I agree with them.
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: I welcome the Minister of State's last comments. This issue was raised again on Committee Stage and we were very strong about it, particularly in the case of small charities. The less paperwork there is, the easier it is for such charities to operate. What we want is accountability and it is with that the Bill is concerned. We do not need over-regulation but we must have accountability. ...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: A serious issue must arise before a decision is taken to remove an organisation from the register. I am concerned about the recommitted amendments. While I am not a legal person, I hope they are in order and do not make it easy for the regulator or someone else to remove a charity from the register. This must only be done where serious offences or breaches in the law have taken place....
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: I am pleased the Minister of State has gone a long way on the issue of clothing collections. RTE will this week broadcast a programme on these types of collection. It is a scandal that people, in their generosity, place clothes outside their homes in the belief that they will be collected by a charity whereas the recipients, businesses in eastern Europe, are making millions of euro from the...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: I welcome the promise that the Minister of State will return to the Attorney General to see if there is any way to cover the issue. Deputy Barrett covered the issue well and got to the nub of the matter. The church has a role to play. We need to take the Del Boys out of the sale of mass cards. I agree with the Minister. We are not complaining about the shops, but about people paying for...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: I move amendment No. 60: In page 33, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following: "(5) A person or body whoâ (a) holds themselves or another person or body (whether or not such a body is established under law or not), (b) implies that such persons or such body, is acting or has acted in furtherance of charitable purposes as defined in this Act, whether or not the word "charity" or any...
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: Charities based outside this jurisdiction will have to maintain some sort of facility here before they can be regulated. How does the Minister of State propose to regulate such charities? As I am aware that similar legislation has been introduced in Scotland and England, I ask whether he has consulted his counterparts in these jurisdictions.
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: What does that mean in English?
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: I welcome this amendment, which we discussed on Committee Stage. It is difficult these days to get people to volunteer with charitable organisations and the original provision put too much pressure on volunteers. People who hear of a matter while having a few drinks in the pub should not be expected to report to the Garda or the authority. This is a wise amendment.
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: Does amendment No. 83 deal with the sealing of collection boxes?
- Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)
Michael Ring: That is fine. I just wanted clarification.