Results 5,641-5,660 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: I consider it key to this legislation that organisations which are not charitable in nature should be prevented from presenting themselves to the public as charitable. I want to be sure that donors to charity can be confident that the money they intend to go for the benefit of good causes is not diverted into commercial businesses or worse. In this context, I am aware of the concern...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: I thank the Senators for their contributions. Senator Mullen outlined the nature of the problem adequately. As Senator Bradford stated, the problem has been identified for a long time and I have been conscious of it since assuming my position. That we have only been able to introduce a provision at a late stage despite my willingness to address it shows the complexity of the problem. While...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: The new charities regulatory authority will face a significant challenge. In addition to its wide-ranging regulatory and supportive role, the new authority will be taking on also the complex functions of the Office of the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests for Ireland, which is to be dissolved. For this reason, the new authority will need to be able to draw on a wide range...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: I thank Senator Leyden for his comments.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: I must inform Senator Buttimer that what other Ministers do in respect of legislation relating to this matter in the future will be their responsibility. I dealt with the matter before us because it was raised by him and Senator Leyden. When I considered the position, I could find no good reason as to why public representatives should be excluded. It was suggested that there should be an...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: The House has spent two long days dealing with the Committee and Report Stages of the Bill. I thank Senators for their contributions, both in the House and outside — where they might advise others — in respect of it. Our remit was to develop legislation to reflect what is going on in the charities sector and to maintain the status quo. We have a come a long way in this regard. I have,...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: I thank the Senators. I want to put on record that I appreciate and acknowledge the role that sport plays in society. I have known that from long before I entered politics and I have certainly seen it in practice. To be fair, the Government recognises it, too, in its support for sporting agencies and bodies throughout the country. If one looks at sporting facilities, they have advanced...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: One of my basic aims in respect of this legislation is to make charities secure against takeover or against being undermined or misused by criminal or terrorist groups. It is vital this does not happen. Members may remember that during my opening remarks on Committee Stage last week, I signalled that I was examining the references to terrorism in the Bill. In this regard, I have consulted...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: During the debate on Committee Stage, Senator Hannigan mentioned the Supreme Court D case, which related to the Criminal Assets Bureau and which stated that unless legislation specifically mentioned the rest of the world, it applied only to Ireland. Based on the legal advice, the proposed amendment removes any doubt that any organisation involved in terrorism in any jurisdiction would be...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: No.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: As Senators will be aware, the Charities Bill 2007 provides that the advancement of religion shall have a charitable purpose with a rebuttable provision to deal with those organisations whose religious credentials are doubtful or whose methods are suspect. The Bill does not attempt to define religion, nor would it be wise to do so as religion has a much wider context than merely charity law....

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: Amendment No. 7 is a drafting amendment removing text considered to be superfluous.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: This issue was debated at length on Committee Stage and I accept that Senators have particularly strong views in respect of it. The Bill does not effect any diminution in the status of human rights organisations operating in Ireland.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: It has been framed to safeguard their status through the deeming process relating to the register of charities.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: I will refer to that point in a moment.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: Many of the charitable purposes in the Bill are very closely linked with human rights. My understanding is that no charity has been granted a CHY number by Revenue on the basis that it is a human rights organisation per se. The Bill does not change the charitable purposes that have developed in common law, nor is it within its gift to do so. As I made clear to the House, it is not the...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: Senator Boyle referred to charities and advocacy. The general scheme was quite restrictive in respect of political advocacy on the part of charities. When drafting the Bill, however, in the context of addressing the question of advocacy towards a political objective by charitable organisations, practical issues arose concerning the protection of charitable status for certain bodies which do...

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: Yes.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: This amendment removes some text that on reflection was considered not to be necessary. Amendment No. 11 is also a drafting amendment that simplifies the previous wording without changing the provision in any way.

Seanad: Charities Bill 2007: Report and Final Stages (11 Dec 2008)

John Curran: Amendments Nos. 10 and 11 are technical. Senator Buttimer referred to the "forces" but I have no idea what forces he is referring to. In the preparation of this legislation, there has been extensive consultation with various Departments, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, political parties and the charities sector. The reason for the substantial number of amendments on Committee and...