John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)

Obviously, there was considerable interest from the sector that charities currently registered could be deemed under the new Act. We have regulated the existing practices in the legislation. In other words, the charitable purposes in the Bill would be similar to those that are seen as such by Revenue. There no reason a charity currently registered with Revenue would lose that status.

More importantly, there is an appeals mechanism and the courts system. If the purposes currently applying continue to apply, there is nothing to fear. We have been very conscious in sections 39 and 40 that those deemed and those who apply would be treated exactly the same.